So often they had seen each other across the courtyard. And, as often, they exchanged pleasant greetings as they entered or exited their respective flat. It was a congenial, if distant "relationship."
That would change as the result of their mutual friends' and neighbours' marriage. A major event in the lives of the betrothed was equally shattering in the lives of these two people. No longer would they be just two lives passing in parallel paths.
They decided that they would go together as the day was to be spent with their friends.
He called upon her bright and early on the appointed day. He was startled to see her adorned low heels, with Roman ties on them, and a wonderful black velveteen dress........knee length with a slit up the right thigh, and thin spaghetti-like straps. This black dress against her tanned skin and her blondish hair pulled over to one side of her head and adorned with a gardenia. Sweetly fragrant and wonderfully smooth like her shoulders. Within him, he wondered if this was the same plain woman he'd greeted so many times before.
She looked at him........in a cashmere suit...........charcoal gray, crisp white shirt, and boldly coloured, repetitive tie with bits of burgundy, tan and gray scattered throughout. She blushed as un-neighbourly thoughts passed fleetingly through her mind and heart and spirit.
They removed themselves from the complex of flats and did not realise they were saying goodbye to their previous lives.
The wedding was beautiful.............sun shining, middle breezes blowing.........happy faces.
The reception started at ~ 6:00 PM and was held at an ocean club overlooking the short scrub bushes and sand dunes leading to the salty water of the ocean.
Into the night the two friends spent their time together.....chatting, dancing, eating..........almost to the exclusion of all others in attendance.
Maybe it was the wine...........or the close dancing............or some other factor.........but they both began looking at each other less as friends and more as deeply attached souls.
They decided to take a walk out on a pier that was somewhat secluded........the moon being the only light to guide them out over the ocean.
They reached the end of the pier and looked at each other..........the wind teasing her hair and the still fragrant flower there. That same wind gently bringing his cologne to her.
They stopped and rested their hands on the railing and in that dim light felt a shiver unrelated to the temperature around them or the gentle ocean breeze on them.
It is unknown who moved first.............it may have been mirror-like............. but soon their hands touched..................her left on his right..........and they turned their heads and looked to each other. That look became a stare and that stare became mutually exchanged signs and signals. They kissed...........tentatively.............innocently
.......a first kiss for two who NEVER had kissed another.........a kiss that promised so much to each other..............a kiss...............that they both desired.
As their lips finally parted, he turned back to the rail to look over the ocean, and wonder whether he had crossed the wrong boundaries...........her actions told him he had done nothing wrong.
She took her right hand and touched his chest through his shirt............her fingers felt his left nipple............and she thought to herself that he was like her in that regard...and she moved her hand more.
Down the flatness of his tummy..........she felt the buckle of his belt............they looked to each other again.......her eyes taking all the moonlight and reflecting the sparkle........her smile.......like that of saint and devil..................she biting her lower lip.......he...............silently nodding yes.
