The field of autumn wheat was gently stirred by the wind blowing in off the sea, as if a giant hand was endlessly brushing across it, back and forth, back and forth…..A broad band of ponderous cloud lurking just off shore threatened a storm but further out to sea, the sky was clear and rays from the setting sun bounced of the iron grey water to light the clouds from beneath. From where they stood, the brooding clouds were a heavy bruise of purple and the sky and surf were a constantly changing iridescent pink and gold. It seemed that nature was laying out a VIP carpet to herald the advancing night.
Their senses felt more acute in the strange light. They could hear as each crashing wave stirred the shingle on the beach far below them and the complete absence of birdsong felt strangely un-nerving.
It had been a beautiful day. For as long as they could remember, they’d promised each other an escape from Boomtown. These were no dreaming run-aways. They’d always known that this would last only a day or so and that before they knew it, they’d be back in the claustrophobia of their everyday lives. But for that brief release, they would become completely spontaneous, timeless, carefree, human flotsam and jetsam.
They’d had the longest, most wonderful day. But now that day was growing old and they needed to think about their next move. They were miles from home and had nowhere to stay – maybe they’d spend the night under the stars, under a haystack or maybe back home if they managed to hitch another lift?
Then the storm broke. In awe as lightning shattered the brooding sky, they shared a moment of terror, a fraction of bliss. With their hearts in their mouths and as huge raindrops began to fall, they ran deliriously along the cliff-top path, hand-in-hand towards a small farm they’d spotted earlier. In the unremitting rain, their headlong flight reminded them of an old French movie they'd watched on their first date. In its closing scene, a sailing ship was battling through enormous waves, trying valiantly to head home in rain and thunder, the crew fearful they’d be dragged beneath the waves. But this was not ‘The End’ for them, their passion for this carefree life was only just beginning.
Out of breath, they reached the barn and soaked to the skin watched as the sun finally sank beneath the horizon. They realised they weren’t getting back to Boomtown that night and dragged each other down into the dry hay. Cuddling together for warmth there was no longer any need to pretend, they had a taste for this carefree life. As they drifted towards tomorrow, they hoped that days like these would come and go forever.
💚🐁💚🐁💚🐁💚🐁... 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼