I think of the mountain and the ridge I came down knowing a place like this couldn’t exist without the a mountain to create a valley of lush beauty and flowing life. I am thankful.

Having an entire beach for sunrise isn’t something I enjoy often. The sky was beginning to brighten and change to a warmer hue. Sitting on the moist sand, I prepared for the dawn. The waves were calm and the sun rose with golden light casting violet shadows on the fluffy clouds. I snapped a photo with my phone in hopes to remind myself later of what i just saw.

I should do this again, I though to myself.

An engine was heard in the distance behind me. I broke away from my gaze and looked at the approaching vehicle.

A few weeks had passed since the last time we saw each other. We planned to spend the morning together alone and catch up.

“I’ve really missed you,” her voice echoed in my head the conversation we last had on the phone. My memory tried to convince me she meant it.

As she pulled up I caught a faint glimpse of her face through the windshield. The reflection of the rising sun glared at me from her car. Her door opened and she stepped out the same way I remember her. Bits of memories flashed through my mind. I greeted her warmly as she walked up. We exchanged hugs and smiles. Familiarity was in the air.

We spent the rest of the morning sitting in a sand-made bench relaxing and sharing stories of our separate lives carefully excluding anything potentially negative. Mostly, we were able to complete each others thoughts leaving many sentences incomplete. Our converging thoughts kept a rhythm we only knew with a perfect balance between silence and speech and smile and cognition. Moments were hours and hours moments. Lost were our selves in the world of reminiscent ideas and dreams. The afternoon came too swiftly.

Knowing this wouldn’t be the last time we shared time together, I continued to doubt the continuance of the feelings enrapturing us. It was time that stood in between filtering and purging of all notions impossible and improbable. I knew the longer we were detached physically the weeds of reality would set in and choke our incomprehensible world we believed in. The world where we were together exclusive of anything separable.

We both could not stay for much longer. She opted for a short walk along the shore on the edge of the sea. Our conversation was quiet as we both knew this was our last time we would spend here. I focused on the feeling of her next to me as I held her. The smoothness of her skin and the tickling of her hair on my arm. I let everything pause as I tried to save this memory. Shortly after, we arrived back at our vehicles. It was a sobering sight.

Our goodbyes were terse with a small overlay or hope and happiness. I did not regret our time spent. We hugged, she held my hand, kissed my cheek, turned away, and entered her car and drove away. I smiled slightly, letting the feeling sink in. I looked back at our tracks in the sand as they slowly vanished underneath the incoming surf. I knew we’d meet again, but would it be the same?

Somewhere down the hole we fell into a land of stolen memories. Every name hung on a wall etched in wood with a small token of their being. We were lost and trapped.

Before the fall, I remember friends entertaining under a large pavilion. Playing some sort of game which only exists in this world.

Would anyone believe the journey I went on like it was just a dream? No one did. I exclaimed it was real.

I searched for the companion I found down in that hole. Around a familiar neighborhood, I found her in a large windowed house. She didn’t want to see me, but eventually gave in.

I faded from black and felt the warmth of the pillow beneath my face.

Laying still, I tried to remember. Minutes passed and the memory faded. If only it was a world that could continue on at will.