Our Most Private Place 750 Word 25

I held her in my arms as I looked off into the distance. The morning air was cool and still. Not a ripple on the surface of the lake making it appear like a mirror as it reflected the morning sun, casting eerie shadows. Even the newly emerged leaves were still. Birds were silent as they flittered about. The only sound was the sirens far off in the distance.

It had been a wonderful few days. Among the best of our lives. We'd been able to settle our last differences and reconnect in a way many couples only dream about. It was as close to idyllic as possible. Not a cross word spoken. Sometimes a look was all that was needed and the deed was done, whatever the deed was. A caress here or there. A gentle touch.

We'd come here to be alone together. A vacation of sorts to reaffirm our deep love for each other. We sat by the glowing camp fire. We sang silly songs. We shared stories. We shared drinks and snacks. We shared a bed.

We recalled how we got to this point, one that most siblings dare not approach. We'd been intimate for over ten years by this point and not only was it not wearing off, it was getting stronger by the day. We hated being apart when our schedules demanded we be doing other things. Sometimes there were the usual tensions and arguments most families endure, but unlike so many others, we could always get through them.

One late spring evening, it just happened. We fell into an embrace and then into bed. We didn't really know why then and never really figured it out. But we always looked back on it fondly and tried to honor the date. This date. This weekend.

No one knew we were here. No one ever knew when we went off somewhere alone. It was our most closely guarded secret. In public we even fought a bit, but we'd laugh about it later, hoping we were throwing people off our trail. We hoped they never caught on to the fleeting glances of improper familiarity.

We came here when we could. This was our private little place in the world, away from the world. Here, all was well, all was perfect. We could be who we wanted to be, we could do what we wanted to do. Oftentimes, that was being naked in each other's arms. Most of those times, much more was done that no one could ever know about.

This one time, there was more tension than usual and it took a while to get it worked out. The outside world of her job had intruded at the end of the day as she was leaving and it bore heavily on her mind. She snapped at me over little things, something she almost never did. I let her be for a while and paid close attention for her signal that she was getting past it. She more than made up for it all in bed that night. By morning, it was done and the day was spent in our usual peace.

The lake water was cool on our naked bodies as we frolicked like some kind of woods creatures from a fairy tale. Not a care in the world came into our minds. We spent the afternoon on the dock that day making each other happy. Very happy.

Tomorrow would be time to pack and leave for our separate lives. At that moment I had no idea just how separate. We wanted to make the best of it and with the evening being so warm we decided to sleep outdoors under the stars. We made love more than once that dark evening with no Moon. Sometimes it was only by feel after the candles burned out.

I'd woken up earlier and gone inside to make coffee. As I looked back, I could see her standing up, then lose her balance.

The deck wasn't high, but the fall was enough. I ran to her grabbing a blanket out of instinct. Wrapping us both in the blanket, I held her as close as possible.

I watched as her eyes closed and we sat for what seemed like forever. My sister's body was as still as the surface of the lake, and by now almost as cool. The parade of red and white flashing lights began to stream in the driveway as I kissed her our last kiss.