Hidden Romance

We met just that morning, down on the beach. I was taken instantly with her, and fell into a spell. Her wavy dark hair, her smile, her summer tan. Who is this girl? I had to get to know her, and mustered up the courage to say hello. There was something between us right away. In our glances at each other, our interest in what each was saying – no matter what it was. We walked down the beach and talked. I paid close attention to every word she spoke. She and her family were renting a cabin up in the woods nearby. My family had a house on the beach for the summer. We agreed to meet later that day, after we had each had dinner.

When I walked onto the beach that evening, she was already there. We sat on the sand, and were hidden from view by the stack of driftwood and logs behind us. Our parents and other curious eyes from our siblings couldn’t see us from inside, if they were looking. We talked for a long time, and laughed about what – I can’t remember. But that doesn’t really matter. We were connecting and I was enjoying her company and getting to know her better. I inched closer to her as we sat on the sand. She didn’t move away. The summer sun had set, and the light was beginning to grow dim. I leaned my head toward hers, and we kissed. It was amazing. Something in me stirred, and I knew this was good. We kissed some more.

I wish I had known what she was thinking, what she was feeling. But that is the limit of being just one person, of experiencing life from only within yourself. But perhaps that limitation is also part of the joy in sharing yourself with another – that not knowing. To be open, to be vulnerable, and then to not be turned away, not to be rejected – but to be accepted, welcomed, wanted.

She lay back further onto the sand, her dark hair resting against a log. I placed my hand under her head to give her more comfort, and we continued our embrace. I didn’t have much experience at this, and I suspected that she didn’t either. She told me that she and her family were leaving the next day. We didn’t know if we would ever see each other again, and I felt sad about that. But I continued enjoying her company there on the sand, in the twilight. All was silent, except for the quiet words we shared.

We parted company that evening. As she walked up the short road she turned briefly, giving me a little wave and a smile. She went up to their cabin, and I went into our house. I didn’t see her again until a few years later, but that is another story.

When I stepped in the door, my dad kidded me about the girl. I could tell he took pleasure in trying to embarrass me. He was like that sometimes, and it was okay. I never knew what, if anything, he saw. I didn’t care. It really didn’t matter. Meeting the girl on the beach was something to remember.

Casey Wilds