Short Stories

A Happy Place

"Tell me something," they said quietly, holding her closer as the wind turned to rain against the tent. The one weekend they planned to camp, the 10% chance of a storm turned to a certain 100.

She readjusted herself in their lap. "Tell you what?"

"Anything. Go to a happy place. Tell me something nice." They tried to distract her from the bearing storm, turning to kiss her temple.

"Mmm by a beach. We'd.. wed rent a little house close to the water so we can see it. Um m-maybe the rest of the group came by but-but we were there first-" she stopped and winced as the thunder started, still far away.

"Keep going," they said softly, rubbing her back. "Breath for me princess."

She tried a deep breath. "We got there first to- set up and all. We-we got first pick of rooms. And I wanted the one with a balcony or-or bay window f-facing the beach."

"That sounds beautiful baby." She nodded and tightened her grip on their shirt. "What would we do?"

She thought a moment. "We-wed just come back from the beach cause-cause I wanted to paint and you wanted to watch the sunset. But-but we were both kinda tired," she sat up and looked at them, "so we sat by the window or-or on the balcony or whatever." They smiled and kisses her head. "We'd sit there. Like-like this. But-but it'd be quiet-" she stopped again as lightning lit up the tent and she could see their face clearly for a moment.

They pulled her close again as her breathing started to get faster. The thunder that shook the tent had her shaking well after it had stopped. They were in the thick of the storm now.

"Breathe for me. It's okay. I'm here baby." They looked up at the top of their tent- shaking and bouncing in the wind and rain. The lightning made flashes of trees against the sides of then tent like monsters tearing at the plastic to get inside. They closed their eyes and kissed the top of her head again before burying their face in her shoulder. "I've got you okay? Keep you safe." She nodded against their shoulder, taking a shaking breath.

The storm subsided after a while. She turned her head a little bit. "I-is it over?"

"I think so princess." They kissed her forehead as she sat up, holding the side of her face and wiping her wet cheeks. "It's okay baby."

She nodded. "Th-thank you.. are you tired?"

They shook their head. "Unless you're ready to lay down, love." She nodded again.

It didn't take long for both of them to fall asleep and they didn't wake up again until morning when it was time to clean up the nights carnage. They decided there was no way to start a fire in the puddle of a fire pit they had so they drove into town that morning for coffee, chocolate milk, and pancakes.