Hooky

The dawn broke.

Awakening brought glorious remembering. Here we were, abed together, my mind and body still reeling from last night's lovemaking. Beyond anything we had experienced together. Beyond anything I'd ever experienced. I don't understand what happened, but she invited pleasures even I had rarely even considered, and I complied with eager enthusiasm.

My heart was so full I thought it might burst.

We arose, stretched, showered (separately) and dressed. I puttered in the kitchen and made enormous Western omelettes for her and the kids. My body, soul and spirit were so warm and full that I didn't really feel like eating. It would almost feel like too much.

We got the kids dressed and fed and sent off to school. I dawdled, missing my bus to work, enjoying her serene presence and beauty. We talked about plans for the week, mentioning that she'd like to take a road trip on the weekend.

Suddenly I blurted, "Do you want to go now? I'll call in sick."

We packed up into the car and drove up over a mountain pass to a nearby farming community, ninety minutes' drive away. We took our time, stopping at little rest stops to walk in the woods, holding hands. She shone in my eyes brighter than the sun, more delicate than the flowers, more deep and glorious than the lakes. I filled my senses with her transcendent presence.

We got there close to lunchtime, and walked into a local chicken-and-burger joint for lunch. The place was filled with teenagers on their lunch break, and all heads turned as she walked confidently past. "That's a strut-and-a-half," remarked one girl. I smiled. Yes, I thought, and she's with me. She's not mine, not now, not yet, but she is with me.

We enjoyed lunch, and wandered lazily through a series of fruit stands. The proprietors were eager to show their wares, pulling out their penknives to slice sections of peach and apple and pear for our approval. We marvelled at the beauty of the crisp autumn day, at the sweetness of the fruit, and the magnificence of the surrounding mountains, mottled in shades of green and gold.

Moment by moment, she silently invited me to stay, just one more moment. Until the end of the day arrived, and she looked up from the bed that once was ours, and said, "Are you coming to bed or what?"

I bowed in respect to her, and the holy marriage bed, and joined her there once again. She liked that. And soon sleep came.