Three weeks, two days, and 21 hours. That’s how long it took you to kiss me after we met that day in the cafe. You would always laugh that I knew exactly who long it took for it to happen. But what you don’t know are all the times I stopped breathing anytime you would lean a little closer to me. How every fiber of my being screamed out for even the smallest of your touches.

Had you planned it to happen where it did? It seemed almost too perfect. We were walking in the park next to the cafe where we had met. The moonlight would break through the canopy of cherry trees speckling the ground with little flecks of light that made it look as if we were walking in the stars. You did always make sure everything was perfect.

I could tell it was coming in the moments right before it happened. You were always confident and collected, but you weren’t then. Every muscle in your body was tense with anticipation, your hands shoved awkwardly in your pant pockets. Even the way you walked was stiff.

Cosmo: It’s a little chilly tonight.

I said trying to get you to relax a little. You stopped and turned towards me, your jaw tense and eyes wondering.

Riegel: It is the last day of summer, after all.

Your voice was soft and breathless. You leaned in, your left hand gentling cradling the side of my neck and I was screaming inside.

Three weeks, two days, and 21 hours.

That’s how long I spent every second of my existence waiting for it to happen.