THEM 'Ishman'

Almost over it

The sea breeze was gentle tonight, like soft fingers weaving through the warm summer air.

The sky was smeared with colors, pinks and purples and golds, like a painting still wet and alive.

Ishan kicked at the sand with the tip of his sneaker, the bonfire laughter behind him blurring into the distance.

His knit sweater loose, soft, with sleeves that fell a little past his hands fluttered against him, and the light fabric of his shorts brushed his thighs when he walked.

He almost turned back.

Almost.

But something made him look up.

And there he was standing a little away, at the edge where the sand met the dunes, Shubman.

White shirt, sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, shorts that made him look devastatingly effortless, the last rays of sunlight catching in his hair.

He looked like a memory.

He looked like a wish Ishan had once made when he still believed in forever.

Their eyes met across the space.

And everything else the party, the people, the noise just... faded.

Shubman smiled, small and hesitant.

It was the smile that once made Ishan fall so hard it had knocked the air out of him.

Ishan swallowed. His heart did a little flip in his chest.

And without thinking, his feet moved forward.

They met halfway close enough to touch but not quite daring yet.

"Hi." Shubman said, voice low, a little breathless.

"Hi." Ishan replied, cheeks warming.

"You look...you look pretty." Shubman laughed softly, running a hand through his hair.

Ishan ducked his head, smiling shyly. "You too."

There was a pause not awkward, just thick with things unsaid.

Then Shubman offered his hand, palm open between them.

"Walk with me?" He asked.

Ishan hesitated for a second, then slid his hand into Shubman's.

Their fingers fit together like they had never forgotten how.

They walked along the shoreline, their hands brushing, swinging a little between them.

The water lapped at their toes, cold and playful.

The stars began peeking out above them, timid and twinkling.

"I missed this." Shubman said quietly, after a while.

Ishan glanced at him. "Me too."

"You. I missed you." Shubman corrected, squeezing his hand.

Ishan's throat felt too tight to answer.

Instead, he tugged gently, leading them toward a rocky little cove hidden by tall dune grass.

It was quiet here private the only sound the soft whisper of the ocean and their own breathing.

They sat on the warm sand, knees brushing.

Ishan pulled his sleeves over his hands again, a nervous habit he hadn't outgrown.

Shubman watched him, smiling like he couldn't help it.