Growing up, birthdays had always been Amira’s favourite day of the year. Not specifically her own, but everyone’s. Her birthday meant that her parents and her brother would get to spend the day together, doing whatever it was Amira wanted. Of course, she loved their travelling circus and the people involved, so she usually didn’t have any reservations about them hanging back, putting on a show, and surrounding themselves with love and celebration. Other people’s birthdays meant she got to watch the people she adored the most in the world get showered in reminders of their brilliants, loud and enthusiastic affirmations of how special they were. Just as every day should be.
And then, suddenly, her birthday had become a thing she loathed. A day that was so wrung with trauma and pain, the memory of Pierre’s hands on her, his lips against her skin, unwanted and uninvited, the press of flesh still prevalent in the forefront of her mind. It was inescapable. Until she met Killian. Until he’d spun her whole entire world on its axis and reminded her that she could be precious too, that each brush of his knuckles against the small of her back was something to be cherished, that each time his lips ghosted the edge of her jaw it came with the reminder that she was safe and loved.
So, today, she felt light and airy. The 29th of September no longer needed to be associated with fear and a burning sensation in her chest, the urge to run and escape and make herself feel small. Instead, she was hand-in-hand with her lovely boyfriend, her giggles filling the air as he led her through the city that they’d made a home in. Killian had been a little vague on their plans, insisting only that he had something fun in store for her and that they’d be out for most of the day. The only thing she knew for certain was that they had a strict deadline to be home by 7pm so that Goose could join them for pizza and movies of her choice. She couldn’t wait.
Amira knew the city well enough to be aware of her surroundings at all times, their feet carrying them ever closer to the docks. It didn’t mean a whole lot, still unaware of the exact nature of their plans, but it did fill her with delight knowing she’d likely have a front row view to the open water to accompany whatever Killian had in store for her. Her stomach fizzed with excitement, butterflies cascading through her chest as she thought about just how lucky she was.
“Have I mentioned just how bloody perfect you are?” Amira breathed, tipping her head back to stare up at the handsome boy beside her.
As much as the two had grown in their affection with one another, stealing kisses left and right, Killian’s fingers bravely gracing her ribcage, she still knew there were walls they’d yet to break down. She knew he had boundaries, that the smallest inconveniences could trigger them both on particularly difficult days, so she was always conscious of how she touched him even now. As their pace slowed, Amira circled her arm around his waist, rounding on him so he could look down upon her. Pushing onto her tiptoes, lithe and easy, she let her lips brush his throat, feeling the bob of his Adam’s Apple as she laughed, teeth grazing his skin.
“I love you. I’m so excited to see what you have planned,” she reminded him, this day as much about him as it was about her.
