The Summer Of My Life

cliff

I feel the cool breeze as I sit on a rock, watching the moonlight illuminate the water. The chilly breeze brushes against my face, and a smile forms on my lips. I close my eyes and sigh, feeling the wind rustle through my hair.

"It's a coincidence to meet you again," a deep voice whispers in my ear.

My startled scream makes my head throb. I look up and see a playful smile. Wait, I know this man!

"How do you sneak up on someone like this in the middle of the night? I could've fallen off this rock, you know," I say indignantly.

The man sits down beside me and laughs playfully. His dark eyes fix on the horizon and the first rays of the sun. The light illuminates his face, revealing every detail, as if it were sculpted by the finest of artists. His eyes meet mine, and he smiles, a genuine smile.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I run this trail every day... I confess I didn't expect to find you here. Are you following me?" His raspy voice sounds playful as he nudges me with his shoulder.

I strain my memory, but I can't recall where I met him. Judging by the confusion on my face, I think he noticed.

"Following you? I don't even know who you are!" I say furiously, rolling my eyes.

His expression changes quickly, and I can detect a brief disappointment, something that turns into a shy smile.

"So, miss, did you move to the city?" he asks with a smile, observing me.

"Actually, I'm just spending the summer with my family. It's been a few years since I visited the city," I reply, swinging my legs.

He makes an indecipherable expression and nods, as if agreeing with some thought of his own. I divert my gaze to the sun rising behind the mountains and smile.

I hear the click of a camera and quickly look to the side.

"Wait, did you take a picture of me?" I ask, incredulous at his audacity.

He shrugs and laughs. The man didn't even know me, and he was taking pictures of me?

"It was a good shot. A beautiful woman with the sun's rays on her face, something an amateur photographer like me couldn't pass up," he smiles, and his dimples appear, making him look adorable.

For some reason, I don't feel angry with him, I just smile back.

"And you? Do you live in the city?" I ask in return.

He smiles at my interest and looks at the landscape.

"I used to, a few years ago... but I've been traveling during that time. Although I visit the city every year, this will be the first time I stay for more than a few months."

Since it's a small town, I try to imagine where he lived, but no possibilities come to mind.

"Funny, I grew up here, and I don't remember knowing you," I say, embarrassed, as I scrutinize his face.

"I'm not the social type," he laughs, shrugging.

Something about him is strangely familiar, but I can't identify it.

We fall into silence for several minutes until he breaks it.

"Well, I promised my friend we'd go fishing today, by this river. His girlfriend lives downstream, she has a house there," he says, getting up.

"My cousin's girlfriend lives in the same area, it's a nice house... Few people live there, I guess not everyone can handle the isolation," I smile at the coincidence.

Again, his face makes an indecipherable expression, and he laughs afterward. I'm not sure if it was because of what I said or if he was thinking something of his own.

"It was nice to meet you, mysterious man," I say, getting up.

He smiles shyly and looks at his feet, which makes me wonder if he really knew me or if it was just another bad pickup line.

"It was good to see you, Anna," he says calmly with his raspy voice.

"Wait, how do you know my name?" I ask, alarmed.

"I know more than you think, Miss Morais," he laughs sinisterly.

A shiver runs down my spine, and I walk towards him, feeling anger welling up inside me. Was he just another crazy fan or some stalker?

"Not funny. Tell me, how do you know my name?" I demand.

"First, you're a famous woman, or have you forgotten about your international career? Second, it's not just because of that that I know you, Miss Taylor," he says sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

Taylor? That's my father's last name, and no one knew it was my last name, only my relatives. I used my mother's name.

Angry, I push his body, and I see him lose his balance. I forget we're on the edge of a rock at the top of a huge mountain. He tries to regain his balance in vain, and I hear him scream before I see him fall. I hear the sound of his body hitting the water. I run to the edge of the rock, my heart racing. Desperation takes over as I see the river's current and the absence of any sign of him.

Two minutes. It's been two minutes, and he hasn't surfaced. My heart beats as fast as a rabbit's, my legs tremble, and my body shivers at the thought of having committed murder.

Breathe, Anna, he must be playing a trick on you, that's all, it's just a way to punish you for pushing him.

Come on, man, show up.

Ten minutes. It's been ten minutes, and he hasn't surfaced. My eyes fill with tears, and despair takes over. I tremble, fearing something terrible has happened.

I sit on the rock, bury my face in my hands, and feel tears running down my face as quickly as the river's current.

I killed someone, I just killed someone!

Lately, my anger has been out of control, and I'm completely different from my usual self. The breakup and work stress, combined with the news of my grandma's illness, have sent me on an emotional rollercoaster.

I've been acting strangely with some people, either too cold or emotional for no reason. These days have been a terrible experience for my mental sanity.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, look up quickly, and see the man with a puzzled expression. His body is soaked, his hair is dripping, and his eyes are red.

I quickly get up and, on impulse, hug him. I don't care about hugging a stranger; I'm relieved that I didn't kill him! My sob makes him feel sorry, and he hugs me and starts to calm me down.

"Hey, calm down. Nothing happened, young lady. I'm fine!" His voice sounds cheerful, and I feel like punching his beautiful face.

I pull away from him and grimace when I realize I'm completely soaked.

"You took your time! I thought I'd killed you! i***t!" I shout, punching his chest, and he laughs before grabbing my wrists with his hand.

A drop of water falls from his hair and runs down his face, reflecting the sunlight. I can't help but stare at his lips, feeling a strong urge to kiss them.

Heavens, I must be going crazy. My emotions are completely out of control!

In a totally inappropriate impulse, I put my arms around his neck and kiss him with desire. Initially, his eyes widen, and he doesn't react until he feels my nails on his nape. His arms wrap around me, and his tongue seeks access between my lips. I open my mouth for his tongue to enter, and I let out a small moan when our tongues meet.

Our tongues seem to dance to their own choreography. His hands grip my waist, and he lets out a groan when my nails run through his wet hair. His left hand traces my body, sending a shiver down my spine, and I feel his right hand squeeze my hip, making my skin tingle again. His beard grazes my neck, tickling my sensitive skin. He encircles his body with his arms as his tongue traces a path from my neck upward.

His teeth grip the skin of my neck and bite lightly, making me let out a painful moan. A laugh escapes from his mouth, and I sigh. I pull his face with my hand and kiss him with desire.