We meet at our favorite spot. The days are still long, but are now starting to get shorter. And the weather is still warm by day – even hot – but the evenings are getting cooler.
We are both tired from our busy work days. But as we see each other approaching from afar, the tension and fatigue melt away, and our hearts beat just a little bit faster in anticipation.
We meet, we touch, we smile. And then you take my hand and we turn together to head down the path leading to the shore. There is not much time – sunset comes earlier with the approach of September. We get to the seashore and head for our favorite rock. Good – it is unoccupied. There are many other places to sit and watch the sunset, but this is a perfect one – almost at the water’s edge, and somewhat separated from the late bathers still soaking in the last rays at the beach. There are people walking their dogs, and elderly women strolling arm in arm along the shoreline. But as we sit down, a cocoon of privacy erects itself around us – we are at one with the universe, but cut off from mankind. Just as we wish. The sun is a bright orange ball – a perfect circle of fire, already almost touching the horizon. The air is crystal clear – the sun’s outline is sharp as a cutout. There are just a few wisps of clouds crossing it like a Japanese painting. At first the motion is barely perceptible. But as the disk approaches the horizon, it appears to pick up speed, sinking more and more rapidly. I am suddenly returned to the present, as you shift next to me. I am acutely aware of your presence. It is just you, me and the setting sun. Your elbow touches my arm, and wisps of your hair are wafted by the breeze to tickle my face. I don’t know whether it is because you are feeling a little bit chilled in the cooling breeze, or whether you just want to be held. But you lift yourself up – without a word - and slide over onto my lap, spreading your knees on either side of mine and molding your back to my chest. I wrap my arms around your waist, enfolding you to embrace you from behind.