Night
The shadows of the trees lengthened as the sky turned into darker hues of blue above them, the horizon tinged with the dying sun’s oranges and blazing reds that signaled the end of the day. With darkness came the sounds of the night, the high-tide waves’ incessant pounding of the cliffs, the hooting of an owl, and finally the first star of the night.
The lone observer’s eyes followed its ascent on the sky for some time, waited until it came to be parallel with the beam of light that shone from the cliffs every few minutes. He followed the path that curved up the slope until it reached the ancient lighthouse, he would arrive on time, perhaps even a few minutes early.
The door to the small cottage was slightly ajar, the windows open to the ocean breeze, a small vase with fresh flowers on the table by the entrance, her shawl draped on the back of a chair, she had arrived even earlier than him.
The floor boards creaked with his weight, he could smell her perfume lingering in the room, the door latch fell into place as the door closed, his heart pounded in his chest, she was waiting.
She heard him come into the room, turned around just as he reached her, their eyes met, his hand traced the lines of her face, she smiled, lowered her lashes, their lips met.
The stars were still bright, a line of pale blue barely visible on the horizon, the windows still open let the morning breeze in, the sheets on the bed retained some of their warmth, the room was empty.