The Fairy Light Collection

Chapter 1

JANUARY: NEVE her entire universe covered in tattered, soft cotton whispering even softer nonsensical words in her ear, trying to quiet the storm inside of her.

After what felt like hours but was probably minutes, Neve loosened her hold, her wife’s hand reached for her chin again, lifting slowly, gently, till their eyes met.

“These violent, violet eyes, my love. Sometimes I feel I know exactly the hurricanes ravaging them. And sometimes, like right now, I have not a faintest clue of what holds all that violence at bay, dissolving it into tears. Will you tell me?”

Neve wanted to duck her head, to hide her face again, but those long, surprisingly strong yet tender fingers cupped her jaw, forcing their gazes to meet, to hold, to speak the truth.

“It’s nothing…” Her own voice was weak and rather pathetic to her ears, and Audrey visibly rolled her eyes, but held her silence, letting Neve gather her thoughts and her courage, waiting her out.

“It’s nothing, and it’s everything. My love, today has been awful.”

“You spent the entire day in the office. Punishing yourself. It’s not your fault.”

Before Neve could protest, the hold on her chin tightened.

“It’s not your fault.” Audrey’s voice was low.

Neve felt it in her bones. “You blame yourself for the loss of the election. You’re powerful, Neve, you are one of the most powerful people I know, but even you can’t control everything.

And as powerful as you are, you can’t control the fires or the Santa Ana winds. ”