Midnight Talkies

.Of midnight introductions.

"Because forever is composed of nows"

--Emily Dickinson.

I often wonder why people tend to classify their 'favourite place' into cities which they haven't visited. I mean, isn't it plausible to find your favourite place somewhere near you?

Because I for one, found my favourite place after just a few days of settling into a new town and also because if you have been living in one god damn place for your entire life, how have you not found a place hospitable for your comfort? Or maybe that is too disparaging of me to say.

Nevertheless, the spot at exactly the centre of the Rehoboth beach in Delaware County, shadowed by the beach chairs lies exposed to the cerulean sky. A lot of people stroll around here in daytime. At night, when the earth shifts an entire axis, it's a whole new story. The end of a tired day settles itself with an eerie calm at night, particularly in this part of the town.

I visit this place after the busker has called in a day and the less fortunate have laid down their mats to sleep by the footpath.

I visit this place when the world is asleep, leaving me awake to trace the footprints on the sand of its shore.

Tonight like every other night, is no different.

The lights on the boardwalk dusk the antiquated shops which have been long closed. The ice cream cart by 'Birdy's Patisserie', in its bright pink colour, stands out under the dim moonlight while the street lamp by its side blinks innocuously. The mast of the ships, hoisted at the other side of the boardwalk forms a distant outline, lining the sky. The sound of the crashing waves ricochets in the night, the scent of sea brine tickles my senses.

I make my way towards the centre, gliding down the steep railing of steps; the coolness of the steel pinches my exposed legs leading me towards the landing. Removing my flip-flops and carrying them in my hands, I walk for a while before reaching the centre of the gigantic beach.

A little distance away from the water, I hoist myself down on the sand and place my khaki clothed side-bag along with the flip-flops by my side before sitting cross legged, Indian style. It's safe to say that this lieu has been my favourite place for quite some time now.

I look in front of me to find the ocean, a little distance away from my feet, rim in an infinitesimal end. Letting the sound of the waves and a fastidious silence surround me, I close my eyes and heave in a long sigh.

This, in a way, has become my routine for the past 6 months. I found this place on cruising into my second week of arriving in this town. That is when I was eight, but only before six months did I realise that this was the place where I would scale on the nights. Since then, it has become a habit of mine to sneak out of my room window in the middle of the night, slide down the water pipe, climb over the fence and in its process entwine my feet in the tendrils of the plants lacing the garden and make my way through the dimly lit streets of Rehoboth to end up here.

"Can't sleep?'

I am shaken from my trance by a husky sound and look towards my right to find a boy looking down at me. The absence of light in this direction makes it difficult for me to identify the silhouette, apart from the indubitable shade of blue in his eyes.

I questioningly raise my eyebrows at him when he pulls his shorts upwards to comfortably plop down beside me.

"You seem quite familiar with this place" he states before stretching his legs out front and throwing back his head in a reclining posture.

I stare at his face to find him a place in my memory of the odd number of people I have interacted with leading up to my stay in this place. My lips pucker in confusion when my memory fails at remembering him. High cheekbones, sun-kissed skin, a tousle of wind-ruffled, soot-black hair and a pair of piercing blue eyes ignited by the gleam of the crescent moon.

"Do I know you?" I ask.

"I'd say a little introduction wouldn't hurt" he says in a clear voice, steering his face away from me and staring out at the ocean.

I feel a heat of red taint my cheeks on realising that I must have been staring at him for quite some time.

"Right" I mutter incoherently.

He looks at me and introduces himself with a big grin, revealing his pearly whites.

"Trystan Hurst. Senior at St. Alfred's. Victim of acute insomnia."

I look at him and introduce myself with a reflecting grin on my face.

" Fia Arquette. Senior at St. Bishops. Victim of acute insomnia"

He realises the reason for the large grin plastered on my face and widens his eyes at my answer.

"Honestly!" He heaves in surprise.

"Fraternizing with students of your rival school in the middle of the night?" I mock him in reply.

"Not quite appreciated, young man"

"Of course I couldn't place you in my mind when I found you traipsing around here!" He answered.

"Uh, duh" I mutter under my breath. Lowevering my head, I play with the hem of my light pink blouse. A pointed pause later, I hear him speak again

"So, acute insomnia?"

"Mh hm" I hum in a reply.

"You come around here quite often. It's not particularly safe at such time of the night."

"Well, Mom." I stress on the endearment before continuing. "It's not like you are not sitting right here with me." I say with an eye roll which is probably not noticed, what with little to no light at all.

"Yet. How long have you been coming here?" he asks, his voice laced with curiosity.

"Been some time now. How about you? I haven't noticed you around here as well" I reply indignantly.

"Because I prefer the far end of this beach. By the boardwalk. It has a great view of the sky."

I do not answer for some time. Letting the sound of the water drown in my thoughts; we share a long pause before I break the silence.

"I like the sound of the waves and the shimmer of a nocturnal sky on the water. It somehow manages to look different every night"

And as if in reflex, we stare out, front, to the beautiful sight, basking in the delight provided by the sheer beauty of the ocean and the sky in the night. A galaxy of flickering lights catches my eyes at a little distance. A ship. I wonder where it's going.

The wind whips my skin and like every other time; I stand up, dust the sand of my clothes and slowly make my way towards the water.

The sand becomes wetter with each step I take and no sooner I find the waves lapping by my feet. I spread my arms by my side and stand on my tippy-toes, to fall back on my heels. Closing my eyes for a moment, I feel a presence next to me.

I turn my head to find him staring at me with a long smile. A smile that could have very well sealed a promise. Reflecting on it now, I believe he had promised me something. 

Because little had I known that that night would have been the first of the many to come.

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Hey guys! 

Its my first story out here and it would be awesome if you guys could comment your thoughts. Also, add in a vote if you found this to be worthy enough!