Temperance

“Araceli?”  A sleepy, small voice calls from the other room.  Araceli quickly gathers a set of servings trays from one of the cabinets and sets about putting the chocolates in a messy broken pile on one of them.

“In the kitchen!” She responds, her own voice soft.  Dallas pads into the kitchen with one hand covering a yawn and the other holding an empty glass.  She’s rumpled and lovely and when she comes to rest her head against Araceli’s shoulder, she can’t resist kissing Dallas’ messy bedhead.

“Happy Friendiversary.”  Dallas says.  Araceli laughs and holds a piece of chocolate up to Dallas’ lips, where it’s bitten gently from her fingers.

“Happy Friendiversary.  And apparently happy fourth divorce and twentieth cheating scandal.”  Araceli reaches for the bottle of wine while Dallas laughs, a slightly hoarse sound from sleepiness, but fully amused.

“You know me, I can’t resist all those doe-eyed fans.”  She dramatically announces while pulling away from Araceli.  She digs the wine bottle opener out of a drawer and hands it to Araceli, who starts to uncork the bottle.

“For shame.  Whatever shall I do with all this chocolate and wine?”  Araceli sighs, equally melodramatic.  The cork comes out with a satisfying ‘pop’ and she pours the white wine into the glasses that Dallas brings over.

“Get horrendously drunk and fat with me while watching musicals, of course.” Dallas responds with a deadpan look, which sends Araceli into a fit of giggles.

“Of course.”  Araceli’s smile is huge and her eyes are crinkled, a little more worn than when the two of them were younger, and Dallas may have the beginnings of crow’s feet around her own eyes but Araceli is still blown away by the beauty in her returned grin.  Years of heartache and struggle have not been wiped from their memories but they have new and joyous ones piled high on top of them, a smile for every tear shed and laughter that blasts away the fading images of crying alone.

Dallas begins cutting cheese while Araceli continues breaking apart the chocolates, a yearly ritual they’ve fallen into with ease.  The same type of wine, a sauvignon blanc, and a mix of old and new musicals to spend their day with.  Begin at noon and continue late into the night, ending somewhere in the early morning with no more chocolate, cheese, or wine to spare.

There have been years where they’ve made pillow forts and years where they’ve cried while drunkenly belting out Titanic’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ to the ending credits of Shrek: The Musical.  There are a few years where they’ve sat in silence, just the two of them in a big dark apartment, staring at the city lights and remembering the battles they’ve fought and the scars they bear.  Whatever it is that they do, it’s been a great many years since they’ve been alone.  It’s love of the purest sort, with no obligations or pressure to injure their bond.

It’s companionship and adoration and a deep understanding of hurts that will never fully heal.  Araceli pours them each a second glass of wine, the pair of them having drained the first while preparing their snacks.  Dallas runs her fingers through Araceli’s short cropped hair and kisses her shoulder.

“The newest adaption of The Dance of the Vampires was just released,”  Dallas murmurs, “and guess who got the first taped copy of it?”

“It’s going to be awful.”  Araceli cheerfully pops a piece of chocolate into her mouth and grabs the plate as well as her wine glass.  Dallas mimics her and they walk into the living room to get comfortable.  Outside the sun is still bright and birds swoop past, chirping like it’s laughter and chasing one another between the buildings.

“It is, and you’re going to love it.”  Dallas grins.  Araceli sets down the plate and the wine glass while Dallas sits down on the couch, and she looks so pretty there, her red hair gleaming in the sunlight and her body stretched comfortably across the cushions.  Araceli leans over the arm of the couch to kiss her, a chaste thing that Dallas smiles into.

“I’m glad it’s eternity with you.”  Araceli says quietly.  Dallas turns on the TV and the previews start to play.

“Me too.”  Dallas gets up onto her knees on the couch and leans over to kisses her forehead.  “Here’s to an eternity of bad musicals and good chocolate.”