Traces of summer’s afterglow lingered in the fading light of the distant sunset as billowing clouds and Pacific winds raced in from the west. Twinkling stars and streaks of comets and meteors lit up the indigo skies as city lights below slowly came to life.

The journey was longer in my head than the actual physical distance as I walked faster down the bridge with the soft, metallic echoes of my shoes causing gentle reverberations in my ears. The last wave of fireflies drifted in the air like faint embers of flame that dwindled each day that we arrived closer toward Autumn.

The speed of my heartbeat couldn’t match the calm ripples of the nearby sea as I grew nervous about this unexpected meeting at this time and place. Considering that we had only spoken once since the new school semester had began, I was perplexed by her random request to come here at sunset. In the distance I could see the sapphire symbol on her university jacket meaning that she hadn’t gone home after classes earlier.

The distance between us grew shorter as my gaze became transfixed by her golden-silvery locks of hair that blew softly in the sea breeze. Absentmindedly I gazed at her sharp, cold features that concealed the beauty underneath the mask. Her cobalt blue eyes swirled with mystery and sadness and I wondered what was hiding beneath those icy, blue depths.

“How long are you going to keep staring at me?” Arabella mused with a small smile as she turned her head to look directly at me. I could feel the weight of her eyes pierce deeply into my soul.

“Uhm…” I stammered in embarrassment as I cringed in the collapse of my late summer’s daydream that had abruptly come to a end.

Artist: Clyde Valentine