An Evening for TAT

A soft summer breeze wafted off the water creating the perfect atmosphere to hold each other close. We slowly strolled barefoot on the sand letting the water wash around our feet and sift the sand through our toes. We talked and giggled the words of young lovers. We stopped and kissed, letting our lips linger together in soft sweet harmony. They were not the kisses of deep demanding passion, but the kisses of two lovers wanting to confirm they wanted to be there, together and alone. We were getting to know each other, slowly and comfortably. We did not want to rush our relationship . It was enough for now to hug, caress to tease each other with thoughts and feelings of what was to come in the future. We walked for hours, neither of us wanting to end the evening. We talked about everything and we talked about nothing. Finally we had to leave, she to her house in the city and me to my apartment on the peninsula. We drove as we had walked, happy, glad to be together. We could not tire of each other. I delighted in the sound of her voice, the smell of her breath and movement of her breasts. Her eyes were a golden brown that matched her long brown hair, creating a feeling that I had a goddess sitting next to me. She had freckles on her cheeks just below her eyes. I loved those freckles. I wanted to kiss everyone of them and take a hundred years to do it. When she laughed or smiled she was not afraid to show her teeth. They were not perfect, but they ere nice to look at. Her small imperfections, freckles, teeth were a big part of what drew me to her. She was beautiful in a wonderful way. She would not ever be a movie star nor a play boy centerfold, but she was perfect for me. She fell asleep and I began to dream about the things that could be. I never saw the car that hit us. I do not remember any part of the accident. She was killed instantly. When I awoke she was gone from me forever. They did not bury her in San Francisco, but in Seattle where her family lived. They blamed me and I blamed myself. I was absolved from any wrong doing by the San Francisco Police but that did not bring her back and it did not ease my soul. After 50 years I still weep when I think about her. I have flowers put by her grave every year and every five years I spend a week in Seattle just to be with her. My wife goes with me and understands that which some women cannot. s beatty/april 09