Letters. [ONHOLD]

1

Independence is great. Walking yourself to school, owning a dog, getting a parking ticket — these are simple events people go through life that mark one's independence. But the real deal presents itself the moment you graduate college. The day you pay for your bills, your own gas, food, rent. Soon these become the little headache that nags the back of your mind from time to time. Sometimes Romee would just wish she were five again and had absolutely nothing to worry about. Didn't have to worry about anything but the small desires she had that day.

But she had worked extremely hard the past few years to get to where she was, the head of Marketing at Minor Hotels' very own Fardale. It was only the second Antara chain in the world. And technically Laurens was her boss, they seemed to follow one another around. His father had been good friends with one of the core members of the Minor company group and being the clever and highly skilled entrepreneur that he was, had managed to convince his comrade to expand the chain and bring the business to America.

He wasn't highly in favor of doing business with friends, but it was worth the risk. It was an opportunity he couldn't dare let past.

So there Romee sat in a swiveling high chair across the kitchen island, tearful eyes reading the thirteenth email campaign of the day waiting on her approval plus nearly sixty more. She sighs audibly and takes a sip of her lemon water before resuming. I love my job, she says to herself. Like a mantra to guide and remind her, Romee said it over and over so she wouldn't forget just how much she wished for it. Before it was hers.

She needed to. She was aware of how humans only treasured things when they don't own and posses it.

Romee immediately relaxes and melts at the warmth embrace from behind her. "Hey babe," Taylor greets as she peppers her face with soft warm kisses. "I missed you yesterday."

"I missed you too," Romee says, swiveling the chair to face her girlfriend. "I hate our schedule. It sucks. So bad."

The blonde cups Taylor's face with her hand, the other caressed her arm. It was nice to hold her like this, Romee's never gotten used to calling Taylor her girlfriend. Neither was kissing her or living in the same space as her. It was still surreal. There were days she was afraid she'd wake up and realize it was all a dream, that it'd been six years and they still haven't found each other. Well that or the alternative which was Taylor wanting absolutely nothing to do with her existence.

"Hmm," Taylor hums and reaches out her hand to outline the end of Romee's furrowed brow softly. "You always do that when you're in deep thought. It's cute. Do you want to talk about it?"

Romee laughs lightheartedly as Taylor plants a kiss on the hand pressed against her face. "Nothing you should worry about," she assures and pulls the younger girl closer. "I love you."

The brunette leans in to close the gap and captures Romee's mouth, kissing her deeply and lovingly like the way she'd always imagined to all those years before.

"And I," Taylor bops the tip of the blonde's nose which crinkles in response to her touch. "Love you too. So much."

"Really? You love me enough to allow me to get us a dog?"

Taylor sighs dramatically and backs away from Romee.

"Babe, we talked about this. We can't," she shrugs as she reaches for a glass and pours herself some coffee. "Getting a dog is such a big responsibility and with our schedules, it's never going to work out."

"We barely have time together, and I know that's ironic because we live in the same roof but there are days where you're barely home or how about times when I get back at nearly 3 am in the morning from my rotations?"