Down to the Beach

All day, we walked along the coastal path, high above the sea far below. Once or twice, we'd thought about going down to the beach when we'd met paths that headed down that way. But we didn't have much time and we weren't sure if there would be any benefit. I pointed out too, that down there we would lose the height advantage we had. Up here we could see if there was anyone else about, any dangers.

'You worry too much,' Jacq said.

I looked at her. 'You should worry more.'

She didn't reply, just looked out at the distant horizon. The sea was blue, bluer than I remember it from before. I thought about saying something, but then I know that sometimes it was a mistake to remind Jacq about the before.

'Why?' she said after a while, after I'd thought she'd forgotten. 'Why should I worry?'

'Because you're a woman.'

'What...? You mean...?'

I nodded, not looking at her.

'A fate worse than death....' she laughed. 'You have a low opinion of your fellow man.'

'So, what do you expect? Nobility? Chivalry? The kindness of strangers?'

'Maybe.'

I made a noise and stood up. Sometimes I thought it was a mistake to care, especially about Jacq. I'd cared before and look where that had got me... nowhere.... Stuck out here on a coastal path with a woman I hardly knew and everyone that once defined me, made me who I used to be, lost and gone forever.

I stood watching the horizon. I felt rather than heard Jacq come up behind me. She took my hand.

I turned.

She smiled. 'Let's go down. Go for a swim. Let's pretend – if only for an hour or so none of that... the before... ever happened.'

I turned and I saw something in her eyes, a kind of pleading and I knew I still cared about her enough to try to make her happy – if only for a while - and so I said: 'Yes.'