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Stevie let himself into his house, sighing after a long shift. He placed his keys on the side table, taking his shoes off and hanging his coat over the banister and the bottom of the stairs.
He placed his head in his hands keeping it there for a few moments before looking up, yawning, he noticed the patio doors in his kitchen were open. His brows furrowed, walking towards the kitchen, a silhouette of Grace sitting in the garden came into view.
He looked at her a moment, looking up at the sky, she looked peaceful, he couldn’t see her face but she looked relaxed. He leaned against the doors, looking up at the star filled sky, the glistening full moon engulfing the twilight sky that unfolded over Belfast.
“Any reason you’re sat outside like a mad woman? It’s freezing.” Stevie joked, watching as she sat with her knees curled up, her hands fidgeting but her gaze never leaving the sky.
“Do you think the moon controls us?” Grace asked, not turning to look at him.
“Sorry?” Stevie replied, confused.
“Do you think we’re all connected to the moon?” Grace asked again, this time turning to look at him. Stevie’s brows furrowed in thought, walking to join Grace on the grass.
“I don’t think so? I mean I’ve never thought about it, but it’s just a space rock, isn’t it?” Stevie asked both confused and concerned about Grace, he grabbed her freezing cold hand, intertwining their fingers.
“Why do you ask?” He continued.
“I think she’s so much more than a rock, she controls everything on earth, she’s sometimes full and sometimes she’s not there at all, she changes colour, she controls the tides, makes them erratic, makes them tame.” She pauses for a moment, gaze stayed fixed to the moon.
“Do you ever stop and ask why? Or admire her beauty?” She continued, quietly, a softness to her voice.
“Can’t say I do, no.” Stevie replied, slowly and cynically, shifting his gaze to Grace who didn’t return it.
“I do.” She whispered, letting go of his hand, intertwining her fingers together around her knees.
“What’s brought this on?” Stevie asked, a light breathy laugh in his tone, looking back up at the glistening full moon filling the sky.
“She looks beautiful tonight. I was watching her, driving home. Just reminded me of when I used to live in Wales as a child. My grandmother, my sisters and I used to watch the moon rise above the horizon every night, every time we stayed with them.” She began, turning to face Stevie once again.
“I remember her telling me, I think I was about 6, that the Moon is a goddess, she’s this feminine beauty, this maternal figure who even though you might not be able to see, she’s always there, always listening.” She admitted softly, truthfully, taking a breath
“Does that sound stupid?” She asked, turning her head quickly to face Stevie.
Stevie stared at her, her eyes soft and calming, she leaned her head on her shoulders.
“I think you’re insane.” Stevie replied, playing with her hair. Grace giggled softly.
“I know I sound insane” she started, and sinking into Stevie’s touch as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I’m not usually like this but, I don’t know, I used to find comfort in that, knowing the Moon was always there when my mother wasn’t, when nobody else was.” Grace admitted, angling herself to look back up at the moon.
“Yeah, I get you, it makes you feel less lonely.” Stevie related, placing a gentle kiss to her cheek.
“Exactly.” Grace replied, curling his knees into her chest once again.
“It’s one of the last memories I have of my grandmother, before I moved to Stafford, before she passed.” She continued.
“When Cal was born and I left Dan and then all of sudden I was a single mum, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do it alone, because I really was alone.” She paused, taking a breath, Stevie too busy watching the moon to notice the tears welling in her eyes.
“But I used to remember what my grandmother told me, about the moon being that maternal figure. Sometimes I’d stare at her for a few moments, sometimes hours and it was like she understood me, she got my pain, she was there for me, and I didn’t feel so alone anymore.” She looked at Stevie, a single tear rolled down her face, Stevie pulled her closer, wiping the tear from her face, leaving gentle kiss to her nose. Grace smiled gently, turning back to face the moon.
“I love the moon. So many people don’t think she’s important, and maybe they’re right. But in my mind, she’s seen it all, she’s been here since the start. The only constant in peoples lives, across time, has been the Moon. Because, even when you can’t see her, like during the day, she’s still there.” Grace admitted, slowly, taking in the moon’s presence, Stevie’s gaze fixed on her as she spoke.
“I like to think when I look at her, that there has been millions of other people who looked up at her like that too, over the years, as time went on, some sort of connection between all the lonely people, those lost in time, a sisterhood, kind of? And I feel less alone.” Grace admitted, quietly.
“That’s really beautiful, Grace.” Stevie whispered, combing his hands through her hair, softly.
“Well, if you can’t find the beauty in this painful life, how will you ever survive?” Grace asked, turning to face him.
“ ‘S Lucky I have you then.” He replied, placing a quick peck to her lips, she giggled, smiling wildly, a crimson blush engulfed her cheeks.
She leaned in again, kissing him gently, wrapping her arms around his neck. He smiled, pulling her closer, the kiss gentle, but passionate. After a few moments, she pulled away.
“Do you think I’m absolutely insane?” She asked, resting her forehead against his.
“I thought you were insane anyway, nothings changed there.” Stevie replied, truthfully. She pulled away, throwing her head back in laughter, Stevie smiled wildly at the sound.
“I love you.” she whispered, leaning in again.
“I love you too.” He replied, closing the gap between them once more, as the moon shone above, casting a sheet of silver calm over the world.