Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7
Alone; I wander aimlessly. The cool, night air is muggy and drops of sweat begin to form on my forehead and at the back of my neck; slowly trickling down my back. Blinking street signs are familiar and yet different somehow; not English – American. Sudden billows of steam rise from the rusty drain covers as the ground shakes every few minutes … the subway. Like fairy lights on a Christmas tree, a multitude of colour glistens and the chatter of people still bustle through the streets even at this late hour. Onwards and endlessly, the streets extend in all directions, buildings towering overhead; a multitude of shapes and sizes all closely packed yet fitting together perfectly, like jigsaw pieces.
My scenery changes all of a sudden; I am at the top of a tall building now. The humming of the traffic beneath me remains despite my altitude. The chess board streets criss-cross over one another as I look out over the side; interlinking, connected and yet still seeking their own destinies. The city lights blur like oil on a pond; splitting into a rainbow of colours that fuse into each other. Swirling air lashes through my hair and around my cheeks with a mild fury and yet I feel no chill. Anticipation races through my veins; warming me, bubbling up under my skin.
He has been waiting for me; patiently, with a relentless hope. His passionate, fiery eyes now scorch the back of my neck as he draws in behind me, step by tentative step, coming closer. His breath against my skin; warm and sweet, making the hairs on my neck quiver with arousal. Gently, his whispering ripples in my ear, ‘Ruth.’ Smooth as velvet but hesitancy clouds his tone. ‘Are you absolutely sure about this?’
I nod confidently, slowly turning around into his long, muscular arms as they wrap firmly but gently around my waist; how can I not want this? Tenderly, his lips kiss the side of my neck, moving up to my ear with an electrifying determination that makes me shudder expectantly. Tussled by the wind, his thick, dark hair brushes against my cheek and tickles the side of my neck and a quiver of excitement shimmies through my spine. His lips continue to caress my skin with a soft moistness that motivates me to look up at him, my lips feverishly meeting his in a harmony that makes our breathing sing.
Behind him, a bright spotlight shines into my straining eyes, obscuring the details of his features. His ice blue eyes sparkle like sapphires, piercing through my soul with their flawlessness. Faster and faster, my heart accelerates and then explodes with ecstasy as I suddenly realise that this man is mine, entirely and devotedly; until the end of time. His grip possesses my body, making me want to concede defeat gladly. Overwhelmed with exuberance, I continue to kiss him with a passion not suited to this very public place, and he pulls away from me calmly and deliberately with a reluctant sigh.
His slow, smouldering smile is tinged with desire; his hand reaching up to tenderly wipe the sweat from my forehead. Soothingly, reassuringly, his touch sweeps against my cheek and cups the sides of my face, holding my gaze with his.
Frozen in the moment, my heart and breathing stop momentarily. Who is this man? My love? My soulmate? I strain against the ferocity of the spotlight’s glare but his face continues to elude me. Blindingly, the light gets brighter and I blink, frantically trying to remain focused on his features; but then, nothing….
I blink again; the morning dawn flashes violently through the thin, cotton curtains in my bedroom. My heart still races and my whole body is shaking; my pillow damp from the sweat dripping off me. A wave of devastation grips me and I clutch at my chest, my heart, in desperation. Was this really only a dream? Please no! It felt so real, so intense. He must be real, he has to be. I have to find him; but how?