It was late December, a few days before New Year's. The walk on the Cornish was his idea, but I didn't mind; I was enjoying his company. With my hands deep inside the pockets of my jacket, we walked side by side; the hustle and bustle of the busy sea-side sidewalk all around us. Neither one of us spoke; however, I, for once, didn't find the silence to be so unsettling. As we passed the lighthouse, his white canvas laptop bag with the red-linings slung over his right shoulder; I moved towards the silver railing and leaned forward against it.
I've always enjoyed walks on the Cornish; although it had always been difficult to convince one of my friends to come down with me. They all thought it was a "Towney thing" to do, so I was glad to know that he enjoyed the walk as much as I did. He stood next to me, casually placing the bag on the ground between his legs, and gently crossing his arms over the railing that separated us from the sea below. Again no one spoke; both of our eyes focused on the horizon. Although it was December, the weather hadn't really turned cold yet; it was chilly, but manageable. In the distance, a few fishermen in their tiny rowboats were still casting their nets into the Mediterranean Sea; hoping to get one last catch before the sunset.
"If you could throw one thing in the sea, what would it be?" I asked him, it was more of a thought that I had spoken out-loud, but I was interested to know what he would answer.
"That's a random question, but I'm not really sure. You?"
"I'll throw away my cell-phone," I replied, toying with the device that lay in my right pocket.
He laughed. Even though we were surrounded by people, my ears registered his laugh only; it was as though there was no other sound but his laugh. "Why so?"
"I just think it's strange how obsessed we've become with having to know who's contacting us throughout the day. Like, why would I need to be reached at all times?"
He didn't reply and I didn't continue.
The sun cast its last rays, shading the sky in a fiery shade of orange. The waves splashed lazily against the rocks, spraying the locals that stood on the rocks, splashing in the shallow ends of the sea. A light breeze ruffled the leaves of the palm trees that lined the edges of the Cornish... And throughout all of that, I was watching him out of the corner of my eye. He had goosebumps all over his arms and he rubbed his hands over them; hoping to warm himself a little. The sun seemed to bathe him in a warm glow that made my heart-rate quicken a few beats faster. There was a simplicity in the way he looked and dressed that, to me, made him look beautiful. It was the way he carried himself that had drawn me to him; like a magnetic force. His white cheeks and the tip of his nose had turned a light shade of pink because of the cold; I fought the urge to wrap my arms around him and offer him warmth. I think it was at that moment, when neither of us spoke, that I started to fall in love with him. Even though cars passed, children screamed with giddy laughter, bits and pieces of people's conversations wafted around us; I felt as though, we were the only two people standing on that strip of the Cornish. All the sounds seemed to mesh together, creating the perfect symphony that described the emotions, feelings, and thoughts that were going through my head.
"Coffee! Coffee! It's good for your brain! Coffee! Coffee! It gives you power!"
The moment was over and I was brought back to the present. We both looked at each other and started to laugh.
Evening was well on its way and tiny stars started to dot the night's sky. A plane flew in the distance and I knew that in a few days, he would be leaving as well.
"What do you say we head back?" He suggested, zipping up the front of his gray windbreaker. I nodded and cast one last glance at the sea.
I followed him back to my car, all the while knowing that I'll always remember that afternoon with him...
I've always enjoyed walks on the Cornish; although it had always been difficult to convince one of my friends to come down with me. They all thought it was a "Towney thing" to do, so I was glad to know that he enjoyed the walk as much as I did. He stood next to me, casually placing the bag on the ground between his legs, and gently crossing his arms over the railing that separated us from the sea below. Again no one spoke; both of our eyes focused on the horizon. Although it was December, the weather hadn't really turned cold yet; it was chilly, but manageable. In the distance, a few fishermen in their tiny rowboats were still casting their nets into the Mediterranean Sea; hoping to get one last catch before the sunset.
"If you could throw one thing in the sea, what would it be?" I asked him, it was more of a thought that I had spoken out-loud, but I was interested to know what he would answer.
"That's a random question, but I'm not really sure. You?"
"I'll throw away my cell-phone," I replied, toying with the device that lay in my right pocket.
He laughed. Even though we were surrounded by people, my ears registered his laugh only; it was as though there was no other sound but his laugh. "Why so?"
"I just think it's strange how obsessed we've become with having to know who's contacting us throughout the day. Like, why would I need to be reached at all times?"
He didn't reply and I didn't continue.
The sun cast its last rays, shading the sky in a fiery shade of orange. The waves splashed lazily against the rocks, spraying the locals that stood on the rocks, splashing in the shallow ends of the sea. A light breeze ruffled the leaves of the palm trees that lined the edges of the Cornish... And throughout all of that, I was watching him out of the corner of my eye. He had goosebumps all over his arms and he rubbed his hands over them; hoping to warm himself a little. The sun seemed to bathe him in a warm glow that made my heart-rate quicken a few beats faster. There was a simplicity in the way he looked and dressed that, to me, made him look beautiful. It was the way he carried himself that had drawn me to him; like a magnetic force. His white cheeks and the tip of his nose had turned a light shade of pink because of the cold; I fought the urge to wrap my arms around him and offer him warmth. I think it was at that moment, when neither of us spoke, that I started to fall in love with him. Even though cars passed, children screamed with giddy laughter, bits and pieces of people's conversations wafted around us; I felt as though, we were the only two people standing on that strip of the Cornish. All the sounds seemed to mesh together, creating the perfect symphony that described the emotions, feelings, and thoughts that were going through my head.
"Coffee! Coffee! It's good for your brain! Coffee! Coffee! It gives you power!"
The moment was over and I was brought back to the present. We both looked at each other and started to laugh.
Evening was well on its way and tiny stars started to dot the night's sky. A plane flew in the distance and I knew that in a few days, he would be leaving as well.
"What do you say we head back?" He suggested, zipping up the front of his gray windbreaker. I nodded and cast one last glance at the sea.
I followed him back to my car, all the while knowing that I'll always remember that afternoon with him...