But For Now

Curled up like a cat in the sand on the shore, he wrapped his arms around a promise he made to the moon. The stars reflected off of his glasses and a crab slowly scuttled its way past his feet. The trails the claws made in the sand made the boy smile and, tempted as he was to pick up the crustacean, decided to let it on its way. It did not belong as a captive in a cage, much like he didn't belong in a cage, either. He had kept himself in one for so long that it was hard to see the way out. 1

Something quiet and melodic slithered from his pants pocket. On the third ring, he picked up his cellphone and answered. "Hello?" A smile. A chuckle. "No, it's okay." He sat up, hugging his knees and listening to the voice on the phone. "Really, it's okay, I don't mind... hey, I was just thinking. It's really pretty here... I can see the moon from behind the clouds and I was thinking about all of the beautiful things in the world... and I thought about you." His voice shaky, legs quivering, heart racing, he stared down at the sand and listened to the waves. "Hmm. Yeah. I wish you were here, too. But for now, this is nice." 2

He sat in silence, cellphone in hand, watching the stars move around him and feeling himself move as well as the earth turned fast beneath him. After a few minutes, he spoke again. "I hope that this isn't boring you... I'm just enjoying your company, even though you're not here." A response. A smile. "Okay." And he laid back and listened to a song. The words floated in the air, miles and miles away, and for an instant it felt like everything was connected, the same moon and the same stars and the same ocean. And words weren’t forced anymore; they just came like a wind. 3

"This all means a lot to me, you know... you're one of the only people I can feel like I can be myself around." Another chuckle. "You laugh too much. I should probably go. It was really nice talking to you." A smile. "Mmmm. Bye." 4

And he stared up and sang the same song to the stars while the moon smiled, her promise fulfilled in the darkness by the quiet bay.