Lorraine

I wrote this scrap a long time ago I think and I'll never do anything with it...cause I don't even know who the people are. But people liked it, maybe you'll want to read it too?
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"Why do you doubt yourself?" she asked him.

"Why do you?" he replied.

She chuckled softly and said, "touche," with a smile. The smile faded from her face and her eyes were deep in thought. "I doubt myself...out of fear. I'm scared of all these things that I know I could do. I could touch the stars if I wanted to, but I'm afraid to try. So I doubt myself in a way to keep me from trying and failing. "

"So if you never try, you'll never fail." he pondered.

"Yes...but you'll never succeed either." she said sadly.

"Success is overrated." he said dryly.

"Is it?" she asked suddenly, turning to face him so her eyes burned into his. She reached her hand out to gently caress the rough stubble on his skin that he had been too lazy that morning to shave off.

He jumped out of nervousness when she touched him. It sent a flurry of butterflies in the pit of his stomach that he instantly berated himself for feeling. He tried to hide the deep swallow he made before he spoke. "Yes. It means nothing if it makes no difference to anyone else."

"And it means nothing to you either?" she asked him as the pad of her thumb rotated in soft circles at the edge of his jaw.

"I matter little." he responded, trying his hardest to remain apathetic.

"Not to me." she whispered as she brought her other hand to frame his face.

"Why?" he sputtered out as he started to tremble slightly under her touch.

"Don't you know?" she asked with a half smile as she leaned in closer.

He shook his head in her hands. "Tell me?" he pleaded.

She tilted her head as she brought her face inches from his. Her eyes were still burning into his, looking for something. With her fingertips, she gently pressed into his skin, sending shivers down his spine. Beyond his control, a small whimper left his lips and he closed his eyes. She closed her eyes and gently pressed her lips against his.

The kiss was soft and gentle, but it ignited a fire in his belly. He felt desire and passion, but it frightened him and he pulled away. His eyes were cloudy with emotion as he focused on hers. Her eyes, eyes that burned with life, were doubtful. She worried about her actions, worried if she was out of place. He realized that it was his turn to reassure. She gave him a spark, a glimpse, of the life that he could have in his. He towered over her as he brought his fingers to run through her soft, silky hair. Even her hair was alive.

It was then that he realized that this woman, this friend of his, would be his salvation. She could save him from his own darkness with the light that burned in her soul. The question in her eyes, was would he let her. His hands were large on her face. There was power in them, power he never though he had. She closed her eyes as he memorized every indenture, every slope and ridge of her face. Her skin seemed so cool underneath his heated hands, almost as if he was burning her. He could smell the faint fagrance of lillies on her skin. The smell intoxicated him and he wondered how he had never smelled it on her before.

He choked out her name and her eyes fluttered open. In his eyes there was a hunger; he wanted her, needed her. He never had before, but he did now. He knew that without her he would never be able to survive again. She had shifted the shield that protected him, breached it. She could hurt him, he knew, but he trusted her not to. "I trust you." he whispered and suddenly it was she that was towering over him. "Show me how to live?" he asked softly, so softly that he wasn't sure if he said it at all.

"You already know how to live." she said quietly as she pushed the hair back from his face.

"Then show me how to love." he pleaded.

She smiled then. "You already know...you just need reminding." she murmured as she leaned down and kissed him. In that moment, both of them knew. Things might not be the same tomorrow and they might have made an error in judgement. But they knew they wouldn't regret, and that for just that one moment, they would live.

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When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."