File #1097: "Mosaic_Spring_2004_19.jpg"
Description
Again she felt the tingle in her nose; the tears were coming. Instinctively, she smiled.
"Just hold me," she almost pleaded.
Nearly before the words were out, he did. Turning over, he made a space for her, and she lay down beside him. She could not stay long. Lying in his arms, memories began to flood her mind. So many, in fact, that the flood nearly made it to her face.
Without ever letting go of her smile, she said plainly, "I have to go now."
Since they had first met, they had had a personal way of communicating. He wanted to say, "Don't go, not yet," but he couldn't. "Scratch my back," was what he chose instead. She knew what he meant. Softly she began to run her fingers and the palms of her hands across his back. His skin felt like satin beneath her hands. Absentmindedly, she began studying for the thousandth time all the faint freckles across his shoulder blades. Really, there was no need to look; she knew where they were. "But this may be the last time I see them," she thought. Gently, she kissed his right shoulder blade.
"Keep scratching, or are you done?" she asked. In their language she meant "Are you ready for me to leave?"
"Up to you," was all he could get out. Still tired and half asleep, he rolled over to face her. Grinning, he embraced her again and snuggled deeper into the covers.
Fear came over her, and she knew why. If she continued to lie here, she could not follow through, so she sat up. Nearly thirty minutes passed as she sat beside him. Running her fingers through his dark, curly hair was a favorite for them both. No longer concerned with leaving, and remembering that she genu- inely did want this man to be happy, even if it was without her, she decided to stay a little longer. However long it took for them to part with real smiles, that's how long she would stay.
Slowly, they began to dance. Not a dance with music or perfectly laid out steps, but a slow, deliberate dance they had enjoyed many times. Love was never rushed between them. Enjoying and getting to know one other was vital. Talking, touching, laughing, and being open were the glue that held them together. Most important was openness.
One of his best traits, she thought, was his open mind. Often times, people say, "Just be honest," or "You can do whatever you want." He meant it. Nothing was unthinkable. Anything in their relationship that was done in honesty and love was allowed.
Finally, as she gently kissed his eyelid, he allowed him- self to wake up. She had spent the better part of an hour just touching him; touching his face, his hair, his stomach, his chest, and arms. As she turned around to massage his feet, he decided it was time. Slightly moving his arm, he began to rub her leg. Step by step they danced. This was the unexplainable surprise of the familiar, when you know what's coming, yet you have no idea what's going to happen next.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Yes," she smiled. Four hours had passed since her arrival on the doorstep, and now he was going to run the water. Most people, for whatever reason, would think that was the end, but she knew they were still dancing. Showering together had become natural.
Looking at the somewhat childish stars he had stuck to his ceiling, she remembered why she was there. She had come to let go. Letting go of the comfort they had found in the short time they'd been together was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done. Many couples are together for a lifetime and never
"Just hold me," she almost pleaded.
Nearly before the words were out, he did. Turning over, he made a space for her, and she lay down beside him. She could not stay long. Lying in his arms, memories began to flood her mind. So many, in fact, that the flood nearly made it to her face.
Without ever letting go of her smile, she said plainly, "I have to go now."
Since they had first met, they had had a personal way of communicating. He wanted to say, "Don't go, not yet," but he couldn't. "Scratch my back," was what he chose instead. She knew what he meant. Softly she began to run her fingers and the palms of her hands across his back. His skin felt like satin beneath her hands. Absentmindedly, she began studying for the thousandth time all the faint freckles across his shoulder blades. Really, there was no need to look; she knew where they were. "But this may be the last time I see them," she thought. Gently, she kissed his right shoulder blade.
"Keep scratching, or are you done?" she asked. In their language she meant "Are you ready for me to leave?"
"Up to you," was all he could get out. Still tired and half asleep, he rolled over to face her. Grinning, he embraced her again and snuggled deeper into the covers.
Fear came over her, and she knew why. If she continued to lie here, she could not follow through, so she sat up. Nearly thirty minutes passed as she sat beside him. Running her fingers through his dark, curly hair was a favorite for them both. No longer concerned with leaving, and remembering that she genu- inely did want this man to be happy, even if it was without her, she decided to stay a little longer. However long it took for them to part with real smiles, that's how long she would stay.
Slowly, they began to dance. Not a dance with music or perfectly laid out steps, but a slow, deliberate dance they had enjoyed many times. Love was never rushed between them. Enjoying and getting to know one other was vital. Talking, touching, laughing, and being open were the glue that held them together. Most important was openness.
One of his best traits, she thought, was his open mind. Often times, people say, "Just be honest," or "You can do whatever you want." He meant it. Nothing was unthinkable. Anything in their relationship that was done in honesty and love was allowed.
Finally, as she gently kissed his eyelid, he allowed him- self to wake up. She had spent the better part of an hour just touching him; touching his face, his hair, his stomach, his chest, and arms. As she turned around to massage his feet, he decided it was time. Slightly moving his arm, he began to rub her leg. Step by step they danced. This was the unexplainable surprise of the familiar, when you know what's coming, yet you have no idea what's going to happen next.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Yes," she smiled. Four hours had passed since her arrival on the doorstep, and now he was going to run the water. Most people, for whatever reason, would think that was the end, but she knew they were still dancing. Showering together had become natural.
Looking at the somewhat childish stars he had stuck to his ceiling, she remembered why she was there. She had come to let go. Letting go of the comfort they had found in the short time they'd been together was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done. Many couples are together for a lifetime and never