Sitting with the soft, white sand covering my toes,

While the warm breeze tousles my fiery red hair

Dozens of beach goers mill all around me

With their umbrellas and chairs and suntan oils.

Still, it feels incredibly quiet

As the seagulls fly around,

The pelicans gracefully glide,

And the dolphins swim and play.

No sounds penetrate my mind

For I am mesmerized by the vision of you

Your dark hair with a smattering of gray

Our eyes meet and my heart jumps.

Your fingers touch mine gently at first

Then our hands hold tight

As you pull me in closer for a kiss

That melts against my lips.

So sensual and magical

As if we’ve been transported to

Our own private paradise

Where only you and I exist.

Then reality drags us back

As we accidentally knock over my drink

But we laugh and feel, just for a moment,

Like the world is still ours alone.

I try hard not to take any of it for granted

Knowing that in a matter of hours

You’ll be boarding a plane again

Headed to another time and place

Away from me.