Time Spent

       It had been over a year since she left, settling back into her normal life of school and friends. It had been over a year since the last time I held her in my arms.

       She came in by train that day, sneaking away the night before so that she could arrive with the day light and spend her time with me. I was waiting for her there at the station; I had gotten there early only to ensure she wouldn’t have to wait. The day we met was a day of nervous stomachs and eagerness. We had been planning it for weeks in advance, and finally all the effort was going to pay off. Each of us had set aside time from our hectic schedules, one day, free from obligations, free from our busy lives.

       I knew who she was, the moment she had stepped out onto that platform, and in that instant I knew I was seeing the most beautiful creature I would ever again see. With a sudden burst of energy she ran into my arms, hugging me and jumping up and down simultaneously. After the typical awkward exchanges, we set off on the day I had planned just for us.

       We boarded a different train, for another quick train ride would put us at the beach. It had only been half an hour since she arrived, and already we were acting like old friends. The time spent apart was no longer there, it was if we had been together nothing short of our entire lives. I talked about myself, my family, my friends, and she would listen and laugh as if these were the funniest stories she had ever heard. By the time our train reached the beach, we were already holding hands and fighting for each second of the day. I hadn’t planned anything fancy, I knew a small spot where we could be alone and forget about the world.

       I unpacked my bag, spreading a blanket and a few containers with food to eat, and as I did she withdrew a camera from her bag. Shouting something about not leaving without a picture, she started taking one picture after another of me in our secret hide away. After that the time seemed to speed past, and before long we had made the moment into our own. We spent most of our time either searching for sea shells or dancing with the waves, but most importantly we had spent that time together.

       The sun was starting to retreat back beyond its horizon, when she decided it was time to look for a beautiful souvenir. As she combed the beach for a handful of trinkets, I decided to take a little time with her camera. Up and down the beach she moved, coming and going on her search, all the time while swaying with the breeze. Each time she passed, I snapped a picture, and before I knew it, I had used her entire roll of film.

       We both conceded that the day was done, as the moon took her place in the sky. We retraced our steps to the train station, and on the ride back her exhausted body fell asleep in my arms. Quietly I held her, while studying our reflection in the window beside our seat. I wanted to ride on this train for the rest of the night, but eventually our momentum carried us to our destination. I gently awoke her, massaging her shoulders until she became aware of our present location. We said our good-byes, lingering at the gate until she had to run for her train, and right before she turned to go, I leaned in and kissed her cheek, stealing the last moment I would ever spend with my angel.

       Months and months later, after she had found time to develop the film from our special day, she would say that she knew I loved her, because she came out beautiful in every picture I took of her. She knew quite well what I was photographing at the time; the quiet sky, the still ocean air, the moment shared with the one I love, and she did not need to send me the photo, for I had already captured it in my mind with more vivid detail and tender colour than the small print.

       In another time, on another beach, things could have been much different. That day was the last time we would see each other, for the chasm between us was filled with different dreams, and all the other dissimilarities we used to take pride in. It has been just over a year since we last saw each other, and like so many things between us now, that day shared, this old photo, and the time spent, is a memory which slowly fades.