"Sweet Sorrow".
He piled the log burner high with paper, cardboard
and kindling, topped it off with a large log, put a match to it and waited until
the flames roared before leading her back to the bathroom for a much needed
cold shower.
They spent the briefest time possible scrubbing
themselves clean, laughing, shrieking and shivering in equal measure, then wrapped themselves in thick, soft towels and dashed back to warm embrace of the crackling fire.
They sat side by side watching the flames and
sipping hot drinks until the birds began to announce the impending arrival of
another new day. Then they climbed into bed, made love tenderly and fell asleep
wrapped in each other’s arms.
They awoke at the same time, lunchtime, greeting
one and other with smiles and kisses before exchanging any words, then began
the process of parting.
She folded her clothes and he packed them into her
bag before he made food for them to enjoy. As the hour of departure drew ever
closer, so the conversation drew ever more sparse.
Eventually, it was time to go. He went to fetch
the car. She watched from the window as he made his way up the street and out
of view, heading for the car park on which he parked. She crossed her fingers,
hoping against hope that the engine wouldn’t start. She continued to watch from
the window until she saw him return and, for the first time, was sad to see him
do so. He was driving the car.
She carried her own case down the stairs and he
met her at the door, taking it from her and putting it into the boot before
holding open the passenger door.
They’d left their departure as late as they
possibly could, so there was no time for a repeat performance of the stop off
during the first journey they’d shared. As they passed the little clump of
trees they both smiled and exchanged a glance. She placed a hand on his thigh
and squeezed. He almost blurted out something he subconsciously wanted
to blurt out, but stopped himself.
“I lo… erm, I, I, I’ll have to carve our names
into that tree.”
They arrived at the airport in plenty of time.
After a ridiculously expensive brace of hot drinks in the busy cafe it was
finally the time neither of them wanted it to ever be. They walked hand in hand
to the check in desk and were both relieved to see there was a significant
queue.
“What now?” He asked her as they faced one and
other, holding hands with their bodies touching. Her response was to lay her
cheek against his chest and sigh.
They stood at the bottom of the escalators that
would shortly take her away from him and she wept as they kissed. He cradled
her face in his hands and used his thumbs to wipe away her tears before kissing
her, delicately, on the forehead.
“Now, fuck off. If I leave now I'll not have to pay for parking.” He said. She snorted with
laughter, a bubble appearing from a nostril. He pretended not to notice.
She rode the escalator facing the wrong way. His
smile never faltered, hers never appeared. Then, as she approached the top, she
turned away.
And his smile faltered.
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