A Midwinter's Sunset

1

I discovered the love of my life on a snowy Christmas Eve ten years ago. Our love was a forbidden one, full of secrets, trust and of course desire2

I was seventeen when I first saw Kiera. The sun was just setting and the sky was a beautfiful blend of pinks,purples and blues. The last few rays seemed to catch in her hair, making it sparkle like golden fire. I lost my breath and gazed at this unexpected vision of beauty. She was sitting alone at the old wishing well, staring into the frozen water. She had a longing look in her eyes, and she seemed sad.3

She must have felt my gaze, for she looked up and smiled at me4

"Hello" she said, her voice as soft as the wind5

"Hi' I said back6

"Would you care to sit down' she asked7

"Yes, thanks" I replied8

"I'm Kiera by the way, Kiera Johnson9

I'm Lex,' I said "Lex Loren"10

Nice to meet you Lex11

We went to shake hand and both got zapped by static electricity.12

"Ow!" we both said simuntanlessly, and then burst out laughing.13

We started talking about everything,from books to movies to favorite songs and singers14

I found out she had grown up in Florida and was in New Hampshire for the first time. She had never seen snow and was trying to get used to the weather. She told me she hadn’t had time to make any acquaintances yet. I told her I had lived here my whole life and, and offered to show her around. Kiera said she was hungry so we went to the little café down the street. We got our orders and continued talking where we had left off. We discovered we had very similar tastes. We both loved the Breakfast Club, Jon Cryer and we both agreed that Angelina Jolie is the most gorgeous woman on earth. The more I talked to her, the more in love I fell. I was never one to believe in love at first sight, but if existed then this was it.15

At the end of our meal as I was getting ready to leave she spoke up.16

"I really liked talking to you, um… if you don’t have any other plans I was wondering if you would like to hang out tomorrow?"17

"Sure" I said not believing my luck " I would love to"18

'All right then here my cell number, I look forward to your call."19

She gave me the number and sauntered out20

We met the next day, and the day after that and the day after that. We started hanging out everyday, all the time.21

After a month I finally gathered enough courage to ask her out. She said yes and we kissed.22

Oh, that first kiss. How do I describe the soft sweetness of her lips upon mine, the gentle sigh she let out, or the way she relaxed in my arms?23

We didn’t tell anyone, we did not want people to pass judgment. My family was very religious and I knew that they wouldn’t understand. My mother kept finding possible matches for me and became angry when I turned them all down. She told me I would grow up alone, never knowing the touch of love. She did not know I had already found it, in a most unexpected place.24

Kiera moved in with me and we made love for the first time. Gentle yet passionate, it was everything it was supposed to be.25

A year later we were married.26

We got married in Vermont on Christmas Eve. It was a snowy day and the sun was just setting, making the sky a beautiful blend of pinks,purples and blues27

The last few rays seemed to catch in her hair, making it sparkle like golden fire. Her ivory dress blended with the snow, turning her in to a Winter Goddess.28

The justice of the peace stood before us.29

'We are gathered here today to witness the joining of Kiera Lyn Johnson and Alexis Marie Loren in holy matrimony…'30

I  looked into Kiera's emerald gaze and felt great pride and joy.31

'…the rings please'32

"With this ring I thee wed"33

"With this ring I thee wed"34

'…You may now kiss the bride.'35

So many years ago, and yet I still remember it all as if it were yesterday. My parents eventually came to terms with my relationship with Kiera,and so did our friends36

Kiera and I now longer had to hide our love. 37

All because of an early Christmas  miracle and the colors of a winter sunset.38