A passionate, vibrant,highly descriptive and suspenseful short story that builds to a climactic conclusion with a startling ending.

Love on the Rocks


I gazed upon the ocean waves, lumbering onto the shore, erasing the footprints pressed carelessly there. I felt alone, and lonely. The waves reminded me of my spirit, renewed and refreshed each time the memories of rekindled love, newfound hope, rushed over the heaviness of my heart.

The evening breeze tousled my golden locks, blue eyes, reflecting golden embers, glistening images of the setting sun, mirrored on the water. The chill of the evening was settling onto my skin. The fiery orange orb sank below the horizon. I hastened my way back to the cottage, it’s image growing bigger with each step.

It had always been my dream to have my own secluded hide-away on a beautiful beach, where I could escape from the world. Entering through enormous glass doors that looked onto the beach, the spaciousness of the main living area lay before me. The room encased many treasures, gathered worldwide, burning passions, presenting their own memories, special times and places, overwhelming my spirit with their splendor.

The stairs encountered the second story, containing the latest exercise equipment, a large spa, where matching, plush velour robes, hung close to a lavish loft area owning a huge bed. Soft, lush pillows and cushy comforter made it easy to snuggle in on nights when you could get the chill of a gentle sea breeze, lilting through the window, nudging you deeper under the covers. The panoramic view was spectacular from the thirty-five foot enclosures. It was a wonderful feeling, belonging somewhere, to someone special, sharing common interests, feelings, and deep love, so open, honest, and caring.

The comfort of such a love encouraged a relationship of free expression. Yet, sharing my innermost feelings so openly, was sometimes scary. I questioned the reality of it all, because I suspicioned it could not last forever according to statistics. Would I wake up one morning, to find it all a dream, nothing more than a fantasy created by my own inward longings? What were the chances that it would continue to provide joy, fulfillment, and security?

My stomach grumbled my mind back to reality. I showered and wrapped myself in one of the plush robes, hanging temptingly, with his initials on it. It made me feel closer to him. I hated that he had to be away so much, but he loved his work. After all, that is what accommodated this easy to embrace, sumptuous lifestyle.

My mind questioned why it was necessary for me to be alone so much of the time. Was I selfish in desiring more time with this wonderful man who was such a profound mental presence in my life? I filled a crystal glass with iced tea that would quench my physical thirst, while the heated passion rising in my body grew unquenchable. Steady thoughts of him permeated every moment. He was more a part of my life than anyone could be. When fortunate enough to gain time together, we were inseparably in sync with one another. I had bared not only my body, but my innermost being to him. I knew he would never hurt me. I felt safe, non-threatened, whole, in my trust and well-being.

I headed back to the loft, my favorite hideaway. I grabbed a book, let the bathrobe fall onto the floor, and jumped into the alluring bed. I was unable to concentrate on reading, as my mind wandered. I turned the light off, discovering the silver light of a full moon, streaming across the bedroom floor. Outside, the dark sky loomed endlessly, punctuated by tiny lights creatively spread. It was beautifully enthralling, but despite my delight in enjoying the wonders of the Universe, there was a gnawing feeling of uneasiness, as if something big, something uncomfortable, was about to happen. I let the ironic blend of nature’s respite beauty, and the innate feeling of unknown reality, be the awkward strangers that would lull me to sleep.

The phone, ringing with a sense of urgency, awakened me from deep sleep. The voice was unmistakably, my beloved. The tone of his voice was so unusually distant. He told me that he loved me more than anything and would do anything if we could be inseparable forever. I assured him that I missed him terribly, and was anxiously awaiting his return. He hesitatingly told me that tomorrow, although he would have difficulty facing me, would bring confession of the whole sordid truth about the lie we had been living. Before he hung up, he reassured me that I meant more to him than life itself.

I slumped into a big, cozy chair, whose comfort seemed to melt uneasy feelings away. Suddenly, the ice cubes in my glass captured my attention, as they became a visual simulation, depicting the waves breaking over the rocks below the cliffs, where I had cautiously walked so often. I became intensely frightened as the ice cubes became those rocks, and my drink became the waves. The scene in my glass, presented a startling image of my lovers body, lying on the rocks below the cliffs, as if a premonition. I hoped it was just the culmination of uneasy feelings and panic, as I pondered how our lives could be so perfect, but now encumbered, punctuated by the mysterious and puzzling phone conversation.

I awoke, startled by whirling, flashing red lights reflecting off the walls, sirens unendingly screaming out into the dark night. Voices were clamoring frantically as a crowd gathered on the cliffs of the beach where the lights and sirens had terminated. I quickly threw on one of his shirts and jeans, and ran in that direction. I heard rumors that the authorities had found the body of a “jumper”, sprawled lifelessly, on the sharp rocks of the cliffs below.

I could not make out the identity of the body, but assumed it a male, due to the long-sleeved white shirt, pinpointing the location of the body amid the darkness of the night. As they removed the lifeless, broken body from the cliffs, I broke through the police line, encompassed by the closeness I knew came from him. I felt the devastating emptiness of his absence leaving my body.

Before they slide the body into the coroner’s vehicle, I feel total weightlessness or “lightness” about myself, as if a complete release of all my tensions, stress, and pain had melted away. Shouldn’t I be crying? Why weren’t they interrogating me as to the details of our relationship, and his mood during the last hours?

Suddenly, I realize that I am observing the scene from above, physically removed from it, yet able to spiritually feel the intensity of the total situation with great clarity. As my attention and acuity focus sharply, time itself has stopped. The identity and face of the body becomes clear as the coroner zips the body bag closed.

It is my face, my body, broken and bloody, battered by my fall onto the sharp rocks of the cliffs below. Drenched and cold from the ocean waves, the lifelessness that had overtaken the limp form mirrored the shattered dreams of a loving heart. Now, I was certain, we would be inseparable forever.