Sara
Rokia’s not in the house, not at the shop, not out in the garage tinkering, and Sara’s about to get worried when she thinks of one more place to check.
“Dammit, Rokia,” Sara says, crawling out the window onto the roof over the front porch. “Monkey-mutt.”
Rokia looks over and grins. “I wanted to watch the sunset,” she says.
Sara looks up. The sun’s near the mountains, warm soft light limning Rokia’s cheekbones and turning her hair into a halo of light.
Rokia tilts her head, questioning. Sara shifts carefully over towards her, wraps an arm around Rokia’s shoulders. They don’t need to say anything, it’s all in the way Rokia relaxes against Sara, leaning her head against Sara’s shoulder.
They sit there until the last colors fade into a dark sky, stars coming out one by one and then so many Sara stops counting. The full moon rising behind them casting silvery shadows across the yard.
“I love you,” Rokia whispers, breath tickling Sara’s neck.
“I love you, too,” Sara echoes, squeezing Rokia in tight. It’ll get cold soon, they’ll have to go in and warm up, but not yet.