Consecrate

The small creak of the hinges all that betrayed her, she crept silently down the stairs and onto the main floor. Her eyes darted violently at every sound of the old house; she had never admitted that she was still afraid to be downstairs after hours. 1

/I hope he will be there./2

Quickly over the wooden floor of the main hall, she escaped into the laundry room and out the back door.3

/Will he keep his promise??/4

Once outside, her nerves calmed. She set out into the cool night air, her strides slowing, and her breath steadily returning. The full moon directly ahead of her, she didn't bother to look back. She trusted none more than this land, and every sound around her was reassuring. She loved to be out on a spring night, with only the crickets to keep her company. But this night, her companion would be different. 5

Stepping onto the soft grass of the meadow, she couldn't help wishing that she had left her feet bare. She looked up from the ground, passing her eyes carefully over the line of trees surrounding her. She longed to stay here, to fall asleep in the grass like she had many times before, but she knew of what would be waiting for her, past the line of trees that now stood almost directly ahead.6

"This is it..." she whispered, stepping through the curtain of trees that now stood as the only barrier between her and him. She felt the breeze pick up, and enjoyed the sensation of her hair tickling her cheek. She paused for just a moment, her breath suddenly catching in her throat. /What if he doesn't recognize me? Even remember me??/ She shook the thought from her mind and closed her eyes. "Of course he will,'' she assured herself. "He loves me." 7

The last few steps led her into a small clearing, far less than the size of the meadow. She skimmed the familiar scene: to one side, the visible crook of a small creek, one that she knew went on for miles; on the other lay a path, one of many trails that she had left in the forest since the years of her living here. 8

In the center of it all, at the water's edge, stood a mighty black oak. She gazed at its strong branches, losing herself in the sight of its budding leaves, how the moonlight reflected against its side from the water... such beauty she had witnessed many times before, but tonight was different, so very different. Tearing her eyes away, she glanced once more around the clearing. 9

/We're alone./10

She gingerly made her way over to the large tree, sinking to her knees next to it's mighty base. Tenderly she ran her fingers across the large roots, exposed by years of the small creek's flooding. "We're alone..." she whispered aloud, letting the pleasure seep through her voice as a smile spread across her face.11

She stretched her arms wide around him, her cheek softly caressing his bark, as but a single tear escaped her bright eyes.12

"Why did you make me wait so long?" she asked quietly, lying down against him, bringing herself closer to his warmth.13

14


Time passed slowly that night, but she recognized the moment when it had come. Nestled between his roots, she closed her eyes once more; slowly she reached for the sachel at her side, its contents reflectng the moonlight in smooth streaks. She had expected to be afraid, but thoughts of her lover gave her courage, a calmness she had never dreamt possible. She knew the pain would bring them together, and that moment was all she had lived for. Then as she lay bleeding, he wrapped his arms tight around her, and she knew she would never be alone.