The gentle, rhythmical hushing of the ocean
waves drowned out everything around her. A warmth tingled her skin. “Listen to
the ocean breeze,” a calming, female voice spoke into her ear. A soft splash
sounded, as the waves washed up against the shore. “Breathe in through your
nose for a count of four… hold for four… and slowly release your breath,
through your mouth.” Following her hypnotic guidance, the red head obeyed. As
she inhaled, her thoughts began to slow. Exhaling, a tingling began to calm her
brain. “Breathe in for four…” the soothing female continued, “And out…” With
each breath, she felt herself relax deeper. Her thoughts clearer. All of the
worries, about work, her family, her future home, all drifted away. The soothing
melody of the swaying sea melted everything away.
The soothing ocean meditation
faded. A familiar, rhythmical clatter of train tracks caused her eyes to
flutter open. The sun beamed down, through gaps in the clouds, over sheep-filled
fields, outside. The right corner of her mouth prodded into her cheek. She
tugged the book, in her left hand, a little closer. Turning her head, to the
seat beside her, the red head’s eyes fell upon the man sat to her left. Her
heart fluttered. Dimples prodded into her cheeks. The man, beside her, sat with
his eyes closed. An earphone cord poked out of the neckline of his charcoal
t-shirt. Almost hidden by the rhythmical clatter of the train, she could hear a
faint baseline from the music he was listening to. Her thumb fanned the corner
of the pages of the book in her hand.
His eyes fluttered open, as
they locked with the red head’s. Her cheeks turned rosy. “You okay?” he asked,
in a soft voice. A warmth spread from the red head’s chest. Pinching her lips
in, she nodded. A gentle hand rested upon hers, holding her book. “I love you,”
he whispered. The warm tingling spread throughout her body and a soft, shy
giggle escaped her.
“I love you too,” she whispered back,
as a flutter of butterflies danced around in a circumbendibus inside her. The
lids of his smiling eyes lowered a little, as he brushed his thumb across hers.
Her eyes lowered to the tattoo on his wrist, as she watched his gentle stroking
of her hand. She heard him release a breathy smirk, as he gazed at her. The red
head flickered her eyes back to her companion’s, feeling a sense of calmness
and complete.
- Josie -
