They spent their childhood collecting the perfect stones, and had met after their foreheads accidentally connected while searching the dirt.  Summers passed in the blink of an eye as they scaled trees, fought pirate lords, and laughed until the streetlights turned on.  When she fell to the ground, lunch money clenched in the grasp of a bully, he found himself in the office moments later after receiving his first black eye and returning her property.  As he hid the tears of accidentally tearing the brand new jacket his mother bought, she bandaged her thumb five times and sewed it as best she could.  Homework was burned through as he explored the marvels of literature and she mathematics.  

As middle school vanished into memory, they faced new trials hand in hand.  He found himself in detention after receiving his second black eye upon defending her honor on the third day.  She found herself there as well after she was caught filling out his algebra homework.  Holding her when her first boyfriend crushed her heart without a second thought, her brought her hope back and gave her smile a place to shine once more.  As he stared into space on the edge of life, she screamed for him to hold on and understand that all would pass.  The memories of the divorce and his brother’s sudden death to illness dulled as they cried together, two broken souls helping the other mend.  Joy graced them before the four year stay was over, and nights were wasted talking and laughing until the sun rose and the routine was to be repeated.  She read what he wrote, critiquing his work while he grilled her on her studies, staring at the answers written before him.  As the final year crawled to a close, she found him abandoned at the year’s final dance.  A knowing glance was shared, and they found one another as the final song played.  Bodies no closer than they had ever been, yet far more intimate than ever before, he found her gaze as the bridge was reached and saw time stand still.  They smiled softly, thinking the same thoughts as he held her.  He touched his forehead to hers, eliciting a smile and gentle squeeze of her hands.  The song ended and the moment was lost in a flash, both too terrified of ruining what was shared.

Degrees became their primary focus as jobs were found and apartments leased.  They shared the space as easily as always, and continued being as close as ever.  Bodies touching as a movie played for the third time, they laughed together and spoke as one mind.  He played through the speeches he knew should have long been said, but never found the right time to bring life to his feelings.  Warm greetings were shared as she introduced him to another.  He watched her slip from his grasp, and fell from hers as his gaze fell elsewhere.  They walked across a stage shortly after one another, grabbing a simple slip of paper that meant their lives were ready to begin.  They embraced and pressed their foreheads together, jumping up and down as friends gathered around.

A piano chorus played triumphantly as she came forward, father leading her.  Her beauty radiant, his smile shone brighter than it ever had.  They locked eyes for a moment before she was passed to the man he had met so many years earlier.  Vows exchanged as he watched from a short space away, feeling certain her contentment was within reach now.  His fingers absently spun the ring adorning his left hand as he watched the ceremony, remembering that night lost to memory so very long ago.  Her gaze fell to his as it was concluded, and she crossed to him before leaving her post.  Their foreheads met on final time as she cried in joy before being led away by her husband, and into a life that would birth new memories and adventures to be had.