Twist
Damien follows me along the path through the woods, quiet. His warm hand is in mine, our steps easy. Above us, through the bare branches of the trees, a half-moon shines. The wind is cold, fresh, and smells of the dark and the river. We round a bend, and he freezes. He can’t know that it was easy to do, with magic. But he freezes, just the same.
A little tent, below the trees. Fairy lights twinkling inside, through the open flap, fluttering in the chilly breeze. Blankets and pillows and bags of things. His favorite foods, drinks, little packages. Books. Journals. Silly, human details. But it isn’t silly, to him. It was so simple to do, but he’s frozen, and it means something. Something more.
“How did you know?” he breathes, hand clenching mine.
“What?” I laugh. “About your birthd
