Love

Coming off the moonlit beach path onto the artificially illuminated sidewalk

the young man placed his arm around her waist

and was instantly gratified when the young woman responded by placing her arm about his waist.

As the tails of her blouse were tied rather than tucked,

the unexpected feel of bare, warm flesh surprising him,

God, it feels so good holding her, the young man thought.

It’s like she’s made for me to hold.

The kissing, at the very least had aroused him,

but then again he usually felt an awakening when he kissed a girl.

But…

But there was something else.

He’d thought the thought earlier but had pushed it away,

but the thought returned and he knew there was something about her that was…

What?

The intensity of his feelings for this young woman,

for the young girl  he had met six years earlier

that had become the beautiful young woman that now walked by his side.

The intensity of his feelings for this young woman becoming stronger by the minute.

Also…

Also the young man was further surprised when he realized that these feelings,

at least for the moment, transcended sex.

Also…

Also the young man realized what he’d missed these past years:

love!

His heart jumping,

Love!

He wanted, once again, to love someone,

And…

And looking to his left, he knew he loved this young woman.

But yet,

How can this be? The young man wondered.

Now is the first time we’ve been together as adults.

But…

But, God!

Going back those six years

hearing the music,

seeing the flickering, firefly lights

visualizing the twinkling reflection of those lights in the young girl’s

dark eyes,

envisioning their purely chaste kiss,

the young man further wondered,

Could I have loved her then?

Could I have loved her all those years without knowing?

Without even remembering who she was?

Yes.

©October 18, 2011 / Mark M. Lichterman