While I'm Gone

Chapter 14 - Glitter in the air

After a lazy morning in Matthew's flat, Sunday afternoon was beautiful. We went out for some fresh air and took a long stroll in Hyde Park.

We wandered for quite a long time, chatting mostly about his life back in Boston, his family and his passion for sailing. There were moments when we just walked, holding hands in silence, losing ourselves in our own thoughts.

After a short break for tea and crumpets, and a quick visit to a bookstore in the Serpentine Galleries, we had to stop because my legs were already giving in.

Seated on one of the benches by the shore, I enjoyed the splendour of the lake, then closed my eyes and let the cold breeze brush my face. Except for the weeping willow branches swaying right behind us, I could hear no sound. Just peace. Then I felt his hand stroking the back of my head, his fingers pressing the nape of my neck, pulling my hair gently, and relaxing my tense body.

"Have you ever heard of Shelley? A poet of the 19th century?" I moved closer to him and took his free hand, linking our fingers.

He gave his head a shake before dropping a kiss on my temple. "It seems his first wife drowned here. Creepy, isn't it?"

Matthew kept digging his fingers into my hair. I closed my eyes, and lowered my head, following the motion of his fingertips as they pressed my flesh from the nape upwards. He continued the small circular movements at the exact centre of my neck, right at the top of my spine. Sweet bliss.

"You do know this is completely crazy, don't you?" I asked.

"What?"

"This story of ours. It doesn't even seem real."

"We're here, aren't we?"

"Hmm," I emitted a shy moan. "Don't stop. That thing you're doing. Please."

His lips twisted into an easy smile.

"And you know what?" I inquired. "It could even inspire a great romance novel!"

"Really? How would it be, then?" he replied, following my playful tone.

"Check this out: handsome guy – they're never ugly, chubby or bald, you notice – meets girl and they fall wildly in love with each other."

He chuckled. "Oh, she falls too?"

"Shhh, let me build my characters! Now, is the handsome bloke a decent man or a control freak, with some sort of alpha male screwed-up personality? Tell me!"

Matthew shrugged, confused.

"So, which are you?" I insisted.

His brow furrowed, but his lips curved in a flirtatious smile. "What? You're crazy, aren't you?"

"Of course, I am, but this should be no breaking news by now! So, where were we? Oh, the bloke – good, bad? We'll see. And then there's this colossal mutual attraction and–"

"Is there?" He gave a small laugh and pulled me closer.

"Don't interrupt: I'm plotting here! As I've said, they're completely head over heels, legs tremble, waves crash, the universe collapses! And because people aren't allowed to be happy right from the start – otherwise it would be all over by chapter five or six – some terrible thing happens to create suspense and anticipation, then they split up and feel miserable for a while. But in the end, right before the abyss, they manage to overcome all obstacles and get back in each other's arms Done. Brilliant!"

An amused grin spread across his face, and he bent his head to steal a kiss from my lips.

"Wait." I pushed him away tenderly. "I haven't finished yet! And the climax will definitely happen on a rainy day! In the rain, it's always in the rain. Dammit, I can't really figure this out: how can it be romantic to make out in the rain? I don't know, never tried it, but I'm sure it's a very unpleasant thing, to kiss someone while you're soaking wet. But who knows? Maybe I'm wrong," I added, shrugging. "And that's it. Then they're entitled to live happily ever after and the crowd is thrilled."