17) Love Defined: Emma

"So how do you plan on doing it?" Emma asked Bailey, a look of anxiety painted on her face.

The two girls were seated in the garden, together. It was a lovely, warm Sunday and it was wonderful sitting in the sun.

Emma had arrived only a few moments earlier. They planned on discussing how they were going to get Emma's Mom to agree to put her daughter on medication and let her see a psychologist. It was the best thing for Emma.

"There are a number of options," Bailey replied, "I was up thinking about it all of last night."

They were sitting on the garden bench. Emma, as usual, was not looking at Bailey, but Bailey did not mind, she understood Emma now.

She knew that Emma did not like looking at her, or anyone for that matter, and that was okay. She just wanted Emma to be comfortable and happy.

She knew that Emma did not mean to be disrespectful towards her, it was just that she found it difficult. Looking at someone in the eyes was not important to Bailey though, so she really did not mind.

"What are the options that you have thought of?"

"I could speak to your mom directly, we could write a letter together to give to her, or I could phone your mom and speak to her if you would prefer not to be there when I tell her."

"I don't know if I want my mom to know everything." Emma said hesitantly, her voice quivering slightly.

The thought of her mother knowing about the night that she had tried to kill herself or even that she had cut herself before, filled Emma with utter fear. It made her so afraid, that the idea brought the darkness flooding back to her mind.

"I don't feel so good, Bailey. The idea is making me nervous and anxiety always goes hand in hand with depression. I don't know if I can do this..."

Emma faced Bailey, looking into her sea-blue eyes, her smiling eyes, on her perfect face. It gave her hope. It gave her strength. She felt that with Bailey, anything was possible.

"I wont abandon you, but it needs to be done, Emma. I will help you. We will do it in the way that makes you feel most comfortable, and don't worry, I won't tell her anything that you don't want me to tell her."

Emma nodded slowly. She trusted Bailey, and she knew that telling Mom was necessary. She just wanted to avoid letting Mom know about the most intricate details. That could be kept secret for just a little bit longer.

"Were you truly being honest when you said that you liked me, Bailey?"

"Yes, I told you, I would not lie to you."

"I am sorry that I need constant reassurance with everything. I am a burden to you. I don't understand how anyone could have feelings for me..."

"Because you are a beautiful, perfect girl, who is the kindest, most understanding person that I know. You are not a burden to me, you are a burden to nobody. You are the most important person in my life right now, Emma. The thought of losing you is the worst possible though. I would not e able to bare it. You are the first real friend that I have ever had."

"I never told you if I had feelings for you too..." Emma whispered shyly.

The gentle warm wind blew wisps of her dark hair across her face. She pushed them away with a quick brush of her hand.

"Do you?" Bailey asked

She was leaning closer to Emma than ever before, and although Emma hated it when people were so close to her, she felt comforted by the presence of Bailey. Her warm breath against Emma's cheek, her hand, less than a centimetre from Emma's own.

Emma could feel her heart beating, and her body was tingling, a sensation that she did not understand, but knew that Bailey caused it to happen. Her body felt ecstatic, as it came to feel the strange sensation of tingling a shivering. Not the same shivering one feels from cold, but a different type. It was a feeling that she had not felt before.

"Ever since I met you, on that coffee date, I have had feelings for you."

"For me it was the same" Bailey whispered, "I knew that I had feelings for you the moment I saw you."

Emma felt her body's tingling growing stronger. She had a strange desire to kiss the beautiful girl who sat beside to her.

She felt Bailey's hand reach for her own. Her warm, honey skin, against her rough scarred hand. Usually, she hated when anyone held her hand, but now it felt so perfect, so comfortable. It felt good.

"Ever since I met you, I have been writing poetry about you- for you..."

"You can read it to me if you want." Emma answered

Bailey unfolded a small square of lined paper. Her handwriting was scrawled across it.

Perfect

I sit beside you every day

I wish that you wouldn't go away

When the bell rings

And we must split

And I say goodbye

I find that I couldn't

I can't

I can't breathe without

Without you in my mind

Without seeing your perfect smile

Without you I am at a loss

Devastatingly lost

I am nothing without you

By my side

My friend, you know,

but also, the love of my life.

Emma held her breath as Bailey recited the poem, her beautiful lyrical voice echoing in Emma's heart, sending waves of passion into her mind.

Bailey drew her breath in and looked at Emma with hopeful eyes.

"It is absolutely beautiful, Bailey... I love it. You write perfectly..."

"Thanks." She replied shyly, her honey skin turning the colour of a cherry tomato.

She looked so beautiful, even when she was blushing to such an extreme.

"You know, the funny thing is that I have never really agreed with teenage romances" Emma began, "but somehow, I don't think that I can resist you. Even though this goes against all my morals, I still can't help but feeling in love with you."

"Do you think it is love?" Bailey asked, as she held Emma's hand tightly in her own.

"I don't think that I know what love is, but it must be the feeling that you would do anything for that person, regardless of whether it will hurt you or not. I suppose love is being perfectly happy to be hurt for someone else."

"You sound wise, and what you say makes sense. I agree with you completely, except I also think that love is when that other person completes you, helps you to fulfil your purpose. I think it is sitting side by side, saying nothing, yet still feeling as if it is the most beautiful time of your life."

"I don't know what my purpose is." Emma whispered, "But whatever it is, I am sure that you make it possible. I have never felt so happy with a person before you, Bailey."

"Nor have I, and no matter the struggles that loving a girl brings, I am willing to go through with it, as long as you are happy."

She moved in close to Emma, laying her head on her shoulder.

The warm wind of that perfect day blew the trees making them dance majestically. Above the girls, the sudden huff of wind caused the red petals of the tall, elegant bush to shower upon them.

"May I kiss you?" Bailey asked shyly.

But Emma never replied, instead she pressed her lips against Bailey's as they fell into the moment of a passionate kiss, and Emma for one, forgot about every trouble and sadness that she had ever had, caught up in the beautiful, perfect act of love.