The Perfect Sunset

We sat there, her and I, upon a cliff overseeing the ocean. As the sun retreated towards the horizon, orange, red and purple rays painted the most beautiful piece of art right before our eyes. Silence stole the words from our lips; it was difficult to not be immersed within the awe that nature had created. But while she watched the heavens swirl into hundreds of stunning hues, my eyes were fixed on her.

Colored beams of light were faintly brushed on her fair skin, creating a stunning mosaic upon her face. I watched as the wind caused her dark hair to sway and mimic the waves of the ocean and as her bangs would briefly hide her thin gentle eyes. If you stared deeply, which I could not help but do, you could see the sunset mirrored within them. It was as if she and the sky were a part of the same painting. It was hard to tell where she ended and the heavens began.

Her whole body leaned toward the sky, away from me. With legs crossed, she snuggled one hand in between her thighs to warm it from the cool ocean air, while the other was held up to her face. Her fingers lightly rested in between her soft lips. With ever breath taken in, through her small round nose, she would exhale a kiss upon those fingers. Sighs of admiration and wonder were all the sounds that came from her. And as the sun progressed she became even more involved. I was overshadowed because I could not compete with the glory of the painted skies. Never could I be as beautiful as that work of art or as stunning as her. And so I remained invisible, hidden from her sight because she invested all of her attention into this feat of God.

Her body trembled like a soft quake as her lips quivered because of the chill in the air. The hooded sweater that embraced her tightly was not enough to fight off the cold. I knew that the warmth of my body covering hers would. But my intentions were greater than that. If I were to hold her, I would become a part of the beauty, joining in with her in being one with the sunset.

And so I raised my heavy arm to rest it on her shoulder. Fear, hope and longing danced within my chest as my hand came closer to her. The feelings only intensified as our bodies connected. My touch stole her eyes for a moment and in that time the oranges, reds, and purples were not within them. Now, she was distinct, an individual that was not a part of the masterpiece. The wind was no longer intertwining with her hair, no longer causing it to dance as if it was the ocean. The brilliantly colored rays had left her, causing her face to be covered in dull shadows. My arm retreats and scurries into my lap. Sinking into the shadows, I shift my position farther from her. Quickly, as if I was a mere distraction, she turned away diverting her attention back to the sky.

Once again she was beautiful, full of color and life while I remained in the darkness of the fast approaching night. And from that moment on I understood the truth; I was never meant to be included in that masterpiece.