The Four Summers with Mignonette

The Most Awaited Summer

It was the month of May again and he could smell summer from the saltiness of the sea. It's funny now that he wanted the summer season to stay when he hated it most for as long as he can remember.

He was standing behind her while holding a bunch of her favorite gardenia and camia that he picked earlier. From the look of it, she fell asleep again on the recliner while listening and watching the seagulls and the waves, something that they love doing together. It was a humid afternoon and according to the weather forecast, there is a possibility of rain in the evening, so he had a blanket ready.

He walked towards her, bend down and kissed the woman. She was beautiful despite the tired jaw, and the once fleshy skin turned bony. The sea breeze was melodiously blowing some strands of her hair, an exhilarating sight that he can't get enough no matter how many times he had seen it. How could a woman still look beautiful even when her hair looks messy, and how lucky can he be that she was her wife. He could clearly sea the beach from where they were sitting. The blue water and the sky painted in multiple colors of pink, faded blue, and some streaks of red are separated by a tiny yet limitless horizon. There are some kids from afar who are carelessly playing while a couple of surfers were bravely enjoying the big crashing waves which to him are ghastly. He held her hand and squeezed them a little, but she was in a deep sleep to be awakened by his soft grip. He noticed that the old cassette on the side table. She was such an old soul who still enjoy listening to it than the modern music mediums. He removed the tape, and just like as he expected, it was same old tape of Andy Williams which was customized to play one song in one track, "Speak Softly Love", the song that they used to listen in high school. He rewinded the tape and started playing it again. He closed his eyes as he listened.

"Speak softly, love and hold me warm against your heart
I feel your words the tender trembling moments start
We're in a world, our very own
Sharing a love that only few have ever known..."

He was almost dozing when he was awakened by a bark. It was Dulce the dog from the fourth generation of his wife's first dog. He signaled the dog to keep quite and the little beast understood him. It quickly ran towards them and settled in front of the recliner, intently looking at them. The little beast's sparkling eyes reminded him so much the first summer he met her.