Returned from the countryside, strong wind of the south stayed and that night, as they rested outdoors by fire, it continued in bursts that struck and sounded as bellow-waves as fire expanded and flared, drawing heat in column higher in raise through open chimney where flares and embers carried upward and free into night above.
The wind was warm, flowing strongly through the cloth and wear of Annie’s shirt and loose buttoned flannel above. Affecting, it sent not a chill, but different feel as it flowed and touched even on covered skin.
In flare of the fire, light changed hue of her opal fingertips; in burst and breath of wind that stirred the flame, opal changed from dark to bronze flare that flashed in sight of brighter copper hue that tempered and cooled and fell again to hiding olive surface as wind died away.
Feeling in the stir, hands held more strongly to James’ arm wrapped in hold upon her. Wind flared again, and with bronze and copper gleam, she held to his forearm, hand tracing slow from elbow to wrist, and back; strongly, then gentle, then stilling back, bringing after his rest more tightly to her body.
In repose and lie, head turned to better see, each in smile and holding peace that was company and presence in life and moment shared. Another wind, another flare, bellow of the heat in upward funnel, embers crackling in cast and float outward into stars before cooling and dying and disappearing in their drift.
Bronze and copper flared in frame of wide night-pupils surrounded in green and gold-thread hue that drew into depths made nearer for another to see in nights and moments of such. James saw the light, the flicker and sign, and when fire cooled, so too her show.
His heart beat stronger, and he knew she felt it as she held close and tight upon him. She moved his hand, Light-sign flared and flashed again, and me moved to kiss her as he held, slow and drawing out and keeping in its feel and quiet speaking.
After, he took her hand, and together they rose, leaving fire to flare and burn and die in time as they gave kindle to a new’s beginning.
