The idea enters my head one day while walking along a trail: this would be a perfect place to be completely naked outdoors. I'm not an exhibitionist, I don't want to be seen undressed -- but to risk being seen undressed, well -- that, that is a thrilling feeling. And this is an ideal combination of public and private to take that chance. Walking the well-maintained loop trail, I notice a small beaten path cutting in to the centre, and taking it, I find that it meets up with the main trail again perhaps a half-kilometre later. But partway in there's a clearing, a sunny spot within the forest, and there's evidence of an old campfire, even a few small stumps used as seating -- probably made by kids from the nearby high school. Kids I'd have thought of as, well, "bad" is a social construct and probably unfair, but still, the bad ones, the ones who drank or smoked or had sex, the ones who did all the things I didn't do in high school. I can hear voices sometimes, from the main path a distance off, but although there are several routes into the clearing I'm confident I would know of anyone coming before they saw me.
I do nothing that day, nor for a while after, but the idea percolates in my mind. And as summer reaches its peak, when I drive to the trail for a walk, I start wearing a sundress with no bra underneath -- just in case. Often I don't leave the main trail at all. Once or twice I venture to the clearing, never seeing anyone, but never having the nerve to go through with things. Never having the nerve, that is, until the day I do. No one ever goes through there, and at some point I have to do it or stop pretending I ever will, and today is a gorgeous sunny day that doesn't come along all the time -- and so in the parking lot I slip my panties off, carefully stepping out of the car in only sundress and sandals. Today I will do it!
Only a few minutes, along the path, down the side trail, into the familiar clearing -- deserted. Not even the sound of others on the main path, I note, simultaneously happy and disappointed. So -- here I am. I'll just...I'll just...oh, god don't think, just do and I pull my sundress over my head, drop it to the ground, step out of my sandals, and -- oh my!!! It is wonderful, completely exhilarating, an amazing rush, my mind races with excitement!
My sundress is right at hand, I could grab it in a moment if needed, and -- and I could grab it in a moment if needed...That won't do. I step away from it, to the centre of the clearing, outstretching my arms, face up at the sky, basking in the warm sunlight -- oh gods it is exciting. My body shudders with joy at the sun, at my nakedness, at overcoming my innate nervousness and caution to take this risk, this wonderful, thrilling, delightful risk!
And then you clear your throat.
I spin toward you, flustered hands rushing to conceal me, legs crossing, dropping to a half-crouch to cover myself. "I'm so sorry!!" I say, heart racing, "I don't know what came over me!!" I lie, "I've never done anything like this before!!" I add truthfully. You stand there, taking your earbuds out, clearly having pulled up short during a run.
Holding your palms out calmingly you say "it's okay, its no big deal, I'm sorry to surprise you that way. I ran in here and saw you, and -- well, I didn't want to frighten you, but I figured I should let you know you weren't alone."
"I'm so sorry, SO sorry!! Really I am! I, I didn't expect there to be anyone else, I walk here all the time, there's never anyone else, I just -- oh god -- I'm so sorry!!"
"It's OH-KAY" you say reassuringly. "I'm not offended, and I'm not going to tell anyone. Nobody, ok? I promise. You don't need to feel embarrassed, it will be like it never happened."
My pulse beginning to return to normal, I smile gratefully at you from my half-crouch, noticing that your eyes are politely focused on mine. "Well, I, I guess, I mean, if it's ...thank you. It was so nice, feeling the air, and the sun, and I only wanted to do it for, for a moment, I -- I didn't think anyone would come by! I am SO sorry! I mean, I knew there was a risk, obviously, but -- it just seemed so, so, private."
"That's true, it is" you reply "or at least it used to be. I haven't been through here in ages, but back in high school this was a hangout spot -- you know the sort of thing."