December 31st 2002
"Twenty minutes to go June," Jim sighed into his glass of orange juice. "New Year telly's the same as ever eh?"
June was sat beside him on the sofa, her legs curled up beneath her, her head resting on his chest, his arm wrapped around her.
"June?"
Jim turned slightly and looked down at June, smiling to himself as he saw her eyes were closed, her breathing slow and steady. He stared at her for a moment, enraptured by the beauty of the woman he loved.
"June?" he said again gently, "It's almost time."
He put down his glass and moved his free hand to her shoulder.
"June, wake up," he said softly. "Twenty minutes to go."
June opened her eyes groggily. "Huh?" she grunted.
"You fell asleep. It's nearly New Year. You didn't want to miss it."
She rubbed her eyes before leaning up to kiss his cheek. "I wonder what 2003 will bring?" she asked softly, snuggling back up to Jim on the sofa.
"It'll be a good one for us," Jim grinned stroking her hair. "I can feel it. 2002's had its downs but I wouldn't change it, well not much of it. This time last year I was sat in on my own, now I'm here with you. I certainly didn't expect this, eh June?� June?"
He turned to her again and chuckled softly as he noticed her eyes had closed once more. "Not going to be a memorable New Year's Eve for you is it?" he smiled ruffling her hair once more.
He grabbed her dressing gown from the arm of the sofa and pulled it up over her legs before returning his attention to the television.
***
TEN! NINE! EIGHT! SEVEN! SIX! FIVE! FOUR! THREE! TWO! ONE! *BONG*
Big Ben signalled the start of the New Year in England as Jim picked up his glass from the coffee table. Turning his head to the sleeping woman in his arms he planted a kiss on her forehead before raising his glass.
"Happy New Year Jim," he whispered taking a sip of orange juice. "And to you June, and you Toto," he nodded to the cat curled up in front of the warmth of the fire as the fireworks began to explode overhead.
Sliding himself from under June, he gently lowered her onto the sofa, waiting as she settled herself without opening her eyes, and pulling her gown over her upper body.
He wandered through to the hallway and opened the front door, shivering as the cold air of the New Year hit him. He stepped outside, pulling the door to behind him and looked up to the sky alone in his thoughts as he looked up to the fireworks illuminating the sky all colours imaginable. The strains of Auld Lang Syne could be heard in the air.
"Happy New Year Jim," a voice said cheerfully. Jim turned to see his neighbour standing there, glass of champagne in hand.
"Happy New Year," he smiled back.
"June working?"
"Nah, she's exhausted poor thing, fell asleep on the sofa a while ago. Tried to wake her once but didn't have the heart to do it again."
"Here's to the two of you," the neighbour raised his glass.
"And to you too," Jim raised his orange juice. "Better go see if she's woken up � she'll wonder where I've got too."
"Wish her all the best from me."
"I will do."
***
"June?" Jim whispered as he entered the lounge room. "You awake?"
He looked at June asleep on the sofa, without a care in the world. Her eyelids flickered as Jim sat down on the floor beside her.
"What are you dreaming about eh?" he whispered stroking her hair and leaning over to kiss her forehead. "I know what my dreams for 2003 are, and you're in all of them, I want to be with you for the rest of my life, these last few months have been amazing June � and I don't want them to come to an end� ever." He stopped talking and turned to face her once more. "I love you June."
Standing up, he bent down and scooped June up in his arms. Her head lolled against his chest as he walked towards the stairs slowly. He took the stairs slowly, grunting with the effort as he reached the top.
Kicking open the bedroom door he placed June gently down onto the bed before switching on the bedside lamp and drawing the curtains. Returning to the bed, the pulled the cover up over her and watched her as she snuggled down into the pillow.
Padding over to his side of the bed, he undressed slowly, placing his clothes over the chair in the corner. Sliding into bed beside June, he propped himself up on his arm and watched her sleep, before planting a gentle kiss on her cheek.
"Goodnight love," he muttered before removing his arm from under his head and turning over, burying his head into the fluffy pillow as sleep overtook him.