“It’s gotten quite outside” you say as you step out on the street. “I think it’s safe now”

I follow you soon after. “Yes, just the way I like; safe and sound” I chuckle. You reply with a smile. “But you also like it slow” you say. “What was it that you had said?” you ask.

You’re a few steps ahead of me. I move in closer. “We have all the time we need” I say. We start walking side by side now. My fingers almost brush against yours. “So, we can take it slow; one day at a time” I add.

A storm just went by a while ago. We had taken shelter in a nearby bus stop. The streets are still wet. But that doesn’t suffice the chaos that we’ve witnessed. We stand at the shore. There’re so many people out here. And yet, it’s so calm around as if madness never stood a chance.

She told me she could smell the rain. And it did rain. I can still smell it in the air along with the salty sea breeze.
“The sun’s setting” she says. I laugh. “It’s already gone” I say. “As if there were any doubt” I try to tease her. She looks unflustered.

The sky has almost cleared up. It looks like a painting but our surroundings make us feel like we’re back in the 80’s.

“After the storm passes away and set us free
No wonder it feels like a fairytale at sea
And yet, I’ll ask you to stay by me”

Somehow, I know you’ve heard me. You don’t say a word but there’s a smile on your face. I look away with another on mine.

There’s a lamppost nearby. I wonder when it gets dark if we’ll stand under the fluorescent light together.

………………………..
One day at a time | April 17