The Beach
We had been walking for quite a while. Tracing the firmer, still moist sand along the water's edge. Hand in hand, we had moved passed the more crowded golden sand beaches onto the rockier, more deserted ones. What were at first occasional patches of rock slowly gave way to pebble beaches. Rounding the craggy bluffs and outcroppings of the cliffs, it was as if we had entered a different, timeless world. Giant granite cliffs surrounded us, blocking out whatever lay behind. Eventually though, even where paths led up their ageless faces, all that was visible at the top were the long wild grasses.
As if signaled by a change in the wind, cooler and brisker than before,
we noticed the sun begin to set.
"Don't worry, I know somewhere just along from here," I told you.
Fastening your grip on my hand even tighter, you let me lead you.
Around the next outcropping, the cliffs lowered slightly and a small path wound up.
Watching your step on the narrow path, you only looked up when we reached the top.
Miles from even the nearest road, windswept grasses covered the cliff top,
bending in the stronger wind.
And there, infront of us, was the remains of an old stone watch tower.
How long it has stood there was no clue,
except for the thick covering of moss on many of the stones that had fallen free over the years.
I led you inside.
With the stairs collapsed, all that remained was an unfurnished stone room.
Piled in one corner, a heap of driftwood, roughly snapped into managable lengths.
As if sensing your unasked question, I responded,
"I've no idea who the others are who use this place, but we treat it the same way.
The wood is here, kept dry, incase we want a fire.
Whenever we use it, we replace it before leaving so there's always more for the next person."
Gathering an armful, I took it just outside and began to build a fire.
It did not take long for the crackling start to turn into a raging fire. Placed outside the doorway, it kept the growing wind at bay. Sitting on a blanket, we looked out, over the fire at the deep oranges and purples of the sunset across the ocean.
For a while we didn't speak. Perhaps words seemed inapproriate in the face of all of nature's natural beauty, perhaps no words were needed. Slowly though, we did begin to talk, exchanging little intimate details of our lives, our heads turned to face each other, eyes scanning eyes, mere inches between us. The gap slowly closed, through movement so slow as to be impercievable. Our lips almost brushed the others as we spoke. Our heads titlted and words gave way to kisses. Soft, light, kisses, almost a continuation of the gentle words we were speaking mere moments before.
Before we knew it, we were lying on the blanket, undressing each other slowly. There was no sense of urgency on that timeless night. The kissing never ceased, though our bodies entwined. Finally, with the warm orange glow of the fire illuminating our bodies, we made love, the only two people in the world.
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This page was last updated on Tuesday 11th 2000f April 2000