27

~Aspen

I wipe the back of my hand over my forehead, breathing out slowly.

"I don't think I've sweat this much in my life," I mutter, looking over to my left, where Kastriv is finishing up the planting.

It's been a nice, calm afternoon. For once.

I want this. I want this everyday, with Kastriv here. We have settled into a comfortable silence often. It's mostly because I'm scared of what I might safe if I do stop and talk to him deeply.

Sometimes our fingers brush, our stares linger. It would be easy to turn and kiss him, to tell him I want him.

I don't think I'm going to have much luck holding off any longer. Kastriv has been patient, which isn't a surprise. He's gentle, sweet and kind.

Even if recently I've felt something else going on inside his head, that he is yet to let me see.

"You should be proud of what you've done," he says, gesturing over the plot that we have planted in. He is right, we worked hard on this and it seems to have paid off.

"Part of me wishes I didn't have to le