Imperfectly Perfect

There are times when our minds extend themselves beyond the limits of our senses, times when everything seems out of proportion, better than usual and beyond belief. These are the times when we employ the last desperate measures we can think of to stop our hearts from racing too quickly or our minds from trying to solve the mysteries around us, because the truth is, in times like these, there is no answer to what is happening, no real reason why things are the way they appear to be, but most of all, no resolve within us to rationalise these thoughts because when we’re caught up in moments like these, the last thing we want to do is change them.1

Perhaps our minds have some way of sensing these types of situations, heightening our awareness to what is happening around us and more importantly, what is happening to us.2

If the moon seemed brighter tonight and a couple more handfuls of stars had been thrown out, she didn’t really notice. While her eyes saw everything around her, nothing actually registered in her mind, but the path ahead of her. The soft brush of the breeze against her skin and the sound, somewhere far off, of rustling leaves also bypassed her mind. Tonight, she was not concentrating on what happened around her, although if she had, she would have seen that it was not a nearly perfect night, the breeze was too cool and the moon too bright, but she noticed none of this.3

Her thoughts we concentrated instead on the feeling of her hand in his, his skin against hers. She was acutely aware of every movement he made and out the corner of her eye, she saw his expression. She saw in his eyes a mixture of steadfast resolve and strangely enough, awe. She wondered then, where exactly he was taking her.4

All these thoughts and numerous other unexplainable ones were interrupted when he pulled her off the path, walking slowly along the grass to stop underneath a large tree. It had well-spread branches and stood in a corner of darkness. She did not notice this.5

He had now turned to her and shifted his hands to hold her around her waist. Her skin burned at his very touch. His eyes sparkled more than usual tonight, perhaps reflecting the abnormal amount of moonlight or perhaps there was something else there, excitement, maybe. He was looking straight into her eyes, trying to read something there and his mouth twitched slightly as all he found was the confusion that she knew stemmed from her thoughts.6

He continued to stare into her eyes, as though trying to convey a specific emotion, one which she could not recognise. 7

Then he spoke. His voice was low and husky, filled with that unknown emotion. ‘Close your eyes.’ 8

With one last look at his eyes, she closed hers slowly. Suddenly, as if her mind could now pay more attention to her other senses, she was very aware of the sound of her blood pumping in her ears and the sweet lingering smell that came from him, but all this was overridden as she felt his finger tips lightly brushing along her temple, down her cheekbone and ever so lightly across her lips. 9

What happened next erased every thought from her mind, leaving her free to concentrate entirely on what she felt. His lips lightly touched her left eyelid, only for a second. Next, they moved to her right eyelid. They were gentle, as though he was scared to leave any marks. She waited then, knowing somehow that this was not the end of what he intended to do. As every split second passed, she became more tempted to look at him, to see what he was planning, but before she could even react, she felt his lips against hers. If it was possible, this touch was lighter and swifter than before. 10

She slowly opened her eyes. His face was inches from hers, as he studied her face, awe most clearly written across his. His eyes seemed so soft yet still sparkled with that emotion which she could not place. She did not look away and parted her lips ever so slightly. The excitement she was sure he found in her eyes, was now clearly mirrored in his. He moved slowly closer. She closed her eyes as she felt his lips touch hers for the second time. They remained there. 11

He moved slowly and she felt one of his hands in her hair, gently pulling her body closer to his as their tongues met. If her mind had been heightening her senses, it was nothing compared to what she felt now. Every one of his movements was gentle yet powerful as he spilled that unknown emotion all over her.12

While the moon shone through the leaves above and the stars shared what light they had from far above, she noticed none of it. It was not perfect, as many expect these types of moments to be. But it was hers and to her, it was perfect. Imperfectly perfect.13