The rain dampened the green fields as they drove through the countryside. It had been a long drive, but as the rolling countryside passed them, they felt increasingly at ease.
His phone beeped with an incoming message. She unlocked his phone and checked the email.
"Maybe just silence it," he suggested.
"I can do one better," she said and turned his phone off, placed it in the glove box and closed it before smiling back at him.
As he laughed, he added, "Maybe yours too?"
She did the same.
The road became narrower and the corners sharper as the green rolling hills were replaced by tall trees. It was peaceful and tranquil. A mist started to gather on the road in front and he slowed down. With the rain now stopped they opened their windows. The cool mountain air filled the car with the rich aroma of the wilderness.
He placed his hand in hers as they sang along to their music, breathed in the forest smells and felt the stresses of the world wash away from them.
"How much further?" she asked.
"Can't be too long, at least 20 minutes," he replied. "it's a lovely surprise, and it is very remote," she said.
"That was the idea," he said, "remote, quiet, and only us, a perfect place to just chill and reconnect."
"It sounds perfect," she replied.
As the road wore on they grew closer to their destination. A single sign pointed down a dirt road. They turned and followed the windy road before arriving at a small building.
Following the map that was given to him earlier, he turned onto a smaller road. The trees towered above the car until suddenly the dim lights of the cabin guided the way. They parked out the front and walked inside. It was very private, remote and breathtakingly picturesque.
The cabin was built like a studio apartment. A small kitchen and living space on the ground floor was framed by giant glass windows that raised to the second floor with a small staircase leading the way upstairs to a mezzanine.
As they walked upstairs to the mezzanine, they were greeted by a four-poster bed facing the giant windows out to the deck on the bottom level. The cloak of nightfall had shaded the view outside, but what they could see was the water of the river slowly lapping the rocks, the sound soothing and beautiful.
It was stunningly remote, and they felt a million miles away from anywhere.
"I'll go and unload the car," he said, kissing her on the forehead and lingering for a moment.
"Did you want me to make you a drink?" she asked.
"That would be perfect," he replied.
She walked downstairs and into the kitchen. The fridge had been stocked as requested. She took a bottle of gin and some raspberry juice. She placed two glasses on the kitchen bench and opened a bottle of Scotch. The smokey and peaty smell lingered as she poured it and then poured her drink.
She stopped and looked outside, spying a light switch. She flicked it and the lights on the deck came on, flooding the deep timber deck. She took the drinks and walked outside. The deck was still slick from the afternoon's rain and the air was fresh. She stepped out and placed her drinks on the handrail and breathed deeply, soaking in the peace and tranquillity of the moment.
"Did you see the tub?" he asked as he came up behind her placing his arms around her and holding her tightly.
"No," she responded.
He turned her around and on the corner of the deck was a copper hot tub and next to it a small furnace for timber.
"That's nice and old-fashioned," she remarked.
"I'll have to find some wood tomorrow, maybe that's the plan tomorrow afternoon, we just soak in the tub," he said.
"Given its winter and I didn't know, I didn't bring my swimming costume," she said.
"We're a million miles from anywhere, I don't think it matters do you?" he replied.
"Exactly!" she laughed, "a million miles from anywhere and anyone".
They drank their drinks on the deck as the soft mist cloaked the river. A soft rain was falling and they didn't care. They held each other close and the world felt for a brief moment to belong to them and only them. Time had stopped and they were alone except for each other.
The morning light woke them as it filled the room. The giant double windows framed the morning.
"It's beautiful," she said, standing in front of the window wrapped in a blanket.
He stood up and walked over to her. It was beautiful.
The two-story cabin was perched atop a small ridgeline with a fast-flowing river beneath them. The low cloud was starting to lift from the towering timbered mountains soaring above them. The sound of the river was almost hypnotic and despite the cold, they slept with the window open overnight, just to hear the gentle flowing rhythm of it.
"I'll make you breakfast," he said kissing her on the cheek and walking downstairs. She hopped back into bed and snuggled under the covers. The smell of toast and coffee wafted upstairs.
"What did you want to do today?" he asked.
"Well, the weather looks like it's clearing up," she replied, "maybe we go for a walk?"
"I'd love that!" he replied, "let's not rush though, we have nothing to do today."
"No, we don't," she said, stretching out under the warm blankets.
"All we have to do is be with each other," he said.
They held each other under the cold blankets, their hungry skin entwined and feeling close and connected as they ate breakfast together. The cloud lifted from the mountains outside.
"Do you think we will need raincoats?" she asked as she tied up her shoelaces.
"it's supposed to clear up, but might be a good idea," he said peering out the window. "I'm very much looking forward to the walk."
"Me too!" she exclaimed, bounding over and kissing him. She did look playful.
Her face was fresh and free, pigtails under her cap, a loose hoodie and sweatpants that hugged her legs.
"What was that?" she asked.
"You look adorable," he smiled as he said it to her. She blushed trying to deflect the compliment.
"I'm wearing casual clothes and have put zero effort into them!" she laughed.
"Yep," he said, "and you're adorable".
"Ok, she said blushing again, we better head out."
"Before we do, I'm planning to heat the tub," he said.
"That's a lovely idea".
He stepped outside and found the timber pile. He took the top off the tub and the water was clean and clear but freezing. He carefully placed the timber in the furnace and lit the fire, being careful to leave enough so it would be hot and relaxing when they returned.
She took his hand and they walked down the steps and into the bush together. As they walked in deeper, the last remaining moisture could be heard dripping from the forest canopy. The aroma of wet eucalypt filled the air.
The fast-flowing river could be heard to the left of them as they laughed, joked and reconnected. They both talked about how hard it had been to find time to just be present, alone and with each other.
"I wish we could do this every day, just walk into the bush and be us for a few hours," she said.
"That would be bliss," he replied, "you are the only person I want to spend time with".
"Me too," she replied, "which is why this has been so pleasant, just you and me, no distractions, email, texts, calls or mental clutter, we can just be present and with each other".
They made their way carefully down to the river and stood at its edge. The water flowed quickly over rocks in relentless and roaring torrents, before gently easing into calmer pools of almost still water. The smooth river pebbles painted a mosaic beneath the surface. The contrast between the forceful flow and the tranquil calmness felt like a shower to them. It washed away their stress, awakening their senses and making them feel present, connected and human again. Time passed, but it had no control over them.
