Us

It had been thirteen years. Not thirteen long years but thirteen years that went by in a rush. Year’s sublime. Still this man exalted her in every deed he performed. This day, a day long awaited and talked about, was unfolding beautifully. Starting with a quick thunder storm she had hid in his chest until the storm gave way to a humid tropical morning. Steam rose just out the window from the fresh rain off the ancient rocks. Somehow he had managed to smuggle a bit of Nutella past security in San Diego all the way down to the islands, these islands, this place of dreams. A bagel and Nutella, she just might keep him.

 

Falling asleep the night they arrived had been difficult due to all the fauna, the creatures of the night boasting aloud their complete domination of this remote and barren place. Their domination complete with the exception of its roughly 2000 humans, they alone ruled this land. Her plan had always been to go there herself. But at the onset of the storm that morning it was confirmed again, she knew it was right to have brought him here. So right. She knew as she gazed at him sleeping through the storm, his slight smile still present on his face. Even as he slept she felt safe with him. Not that he was some fierce protector, though that he was, but her heart and intellect safe with him. Thirteen years and it was still a joy to just watch him sleep. She pinched herself as she did most mornings to realize it wasn't a dream.

 

Striding out into the sun bare-a*s naked he shouted over his shoulder, "What do think I should wear?"

 

She hit him with the towel from her head and countered, "Get in here before you scare the normal people."

 

They got their "outfit,” as he liked to call it, together and strode out together into the morning sun. They had become well practiced and organized in their extensive travels together. Upon assembly they quickly read off a checklist for their locale. Whether the in Arctic or trekking a desert, they had a list and checked it before heading out. They often marveled together at the lack of preparation they saw in other travelers and had a game of pointing out "The Unfortunates" to each other. This morning they were to trek the entire island beginning early and ending late. Cameras, note books, digital recorders, water, first aid kit, energy food, and each other… they were prepared for any eventuality. She of course headed first toward the trees launching out in front of him, always first. That is just how it was.

 

He noticed the little frog first though she had been there at the tree for a bit. "Being" with the tree was important. He had stood off to the side for a moment talking low into his recorder as he looked out over the ocean. He had wanted to sail there but that would have taken far too long so they had easily settled on traditional travel as it maximized their time together. The frog had been studying her for some time and she was a bit surprised when it jumped right into her hand, but she didn't flinch and didn't drop it. It looked at her with the big black eyes on top of its little head, seemed to hold her gaze for a moment and then jumped back into the knee high grass that surrounded the stunted palm.

 

"Did you get it?" she asked.

 

"Nope," he said with that big grin on his face.

 

She responded by reaching up with her fingers extended and brushed his face from his hairline to his lips, spun on her heal and started out for Ahu Tongariki, she was going to be first. He really didn't mind at all because even after 13 years he still loved to watch her walk. She loved feeling his gaze upon her... almost as much as she loved being first.

 

The sight of the huge stones slowly came into view and then disappeared as they trekked the well worn path across the undulating hills toward the monuments. Each crest leaving just a bit more of the stones exposed as they walked. Setting a brisk pace she loved the feeling and power of her stride the sense of walking toward this long talked about goal. This was real, he was real, they were real. Halfway there on the top of one of the small ridges she stopped suddenly and slowly turned in a circle taking it all in. She wanted to etch this moment permanently into her mind. Although they had realized many dreams together, this one was paramount because it was just like he had written all those years ago. Thirteen years ago. Incredibly it was exactly as he had written, and incredibly here they were together. As he caught up to her he started to open his mouth to speak and she quickly silenced him by placing her finger to his lips. He looked deeply into her eyes, slid behind her, placed his arms around her and as he had done so many times before popped out his camera and recorded the scene with the back of her head just in the frame capturing exactly what she was seeing as best he could. He then slowly turned her to him, camera still running and panned themselves into the scene and he kissed her.

 

"Dork," she mumbled.

 

"Princess," he quipped.

 

Throughout the day they moved from joint observations and shared moments to periods of independent thoughts and contemplations taking notes rigorously, capturing scenes on still camera, and videotaping their surroundings. Not for anyone else but for themselves. For their meticulously cataloged and organized shelf that sat in their study called Us.

 

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

Such a wounderful, idylic relationship these two have, skillfully recorded by one who surely knows of such things. I had a bit of trouble following it, though, and can't understand the fourth sentence in the first paragraph.