Author’s Note: This is a story I wrote some time ago. It was written for a specific theme that I don’t suppose will ever return, so I thought I’d post it for you. I hope you enjoy it.
Image Courtesy Trevor McKinnon Unsplash.com
She bathed in the waters of the midnight sea unlit by the vibrant moon. Mysterious in her dark allure, she radiated a misting shade far beyond that of the night. An ebony presence outlined by rivulets of flowing stars, her slender figure slipped through the surf in silence. Even the sea gods shied from touching so divine a darkness. Her purity demanded it.
Almost spectral in those quiet hours, I observed her from behind the sand dunes. She gave no acknowledgement of my presence, or any other, so there I remained unable to tear my eyes from such exquisite a form. She made slow passage through the shallows taking her time as though savoring every delicious moment. I prayed she did it to tease me; a wishful fantasy. Unhurried, she passed my hiding place in slow, undulating strokes, fearless of those creatures that lurked near the ocean boundaries. Then again, why need she, the night was she and she the night.
And so it was I lingered on her horizon as I did each night since first spying her. Drawn to her elemental majesty, I watched from so near, yet so far. However long I dallied it seemed never enough and always over too soon. Time can play tricks on a person in such situations. How I yearned above all else to hold, kiss, love her; tell her I watched over her. But I could not. The coward in me prevented it and the coward within that proved too scared to speak up.
And so it was I made my peace in being content to look but not touch, listen but not speak. Still, what I wouldn’t have given to see her eyes just once. It would have been worth the risk to know the color of perfection, would it not? The same question every night. I must have asked it myriad times from dusk to dawn and back again. There was never an answer to quench my thirst for her.
Time moved slower than usual, or so I imagined. The October moon hovered in an obsidian sky, a diamond set upon a ring of night, and never once looked like descending. The silver orb cast its light upon the ocean, but could not touch she. That saddened me. Such beauty deserved so divine a spotlight more than any soul I had known. And so in a moment I would eternally regret, I revealed myself. Shattered, our tryst lay in tatters.
No sooner did I rise from my eastern berth like a dawning sun, at first slow just peeking above the dunes, then faster ever rising, did she depart. In a haze of smudged charcoals where the pair of us collided as sea mist, then fog, she vanished. My heart felt ripped from its all too mortal cage.
Cursed to never know the one soul I wished, I paced the dawn beach ashamed of my timidity. By the time the tide had swallowed her damp footprints, I had forgotten her. Or so I told myself. By night those thoughts would change.
Once again my midnight would consume me, and the heartache would begin anew. For I, a lowly fisherman did not deserve a goddess for a bride, though I hoped. If I could have talked to her, held her in a tender embrace, then perhaps she would’ve known and wanted me. Perhaps? Sometimes, I thought she already did. Sometimes, but not often.
The End
Thank you for reading
Richard
Richard M. Ankers
Author of the brand new steampunk extravaganza Britannia Unleashed.
Richard M. Ankers - Storybook 
this is a stunningly beautiful write Richard…so many amazing verses,
“a diamond set upon a ring of night” , this could well be about a ship passing and a young man desiring to sail the world. Lovely!
I’m really glad you thought so, Holly. 🙂
I do indeed!
No words … ❤
Thanks D 🙂
A gorgeous piece, Richard. I’d like to share it on my Sunday Blog Share on 3/12, if that’s okay. Sometimes I come back to your pieces and they’re gone. I get a “page not found.” Do you delete them sometimes?
I sometimes reschedule them for another day. I don’t know how else to reboot them without losing the likes. I’d hate anyone reading it twice for no reason.
Oh, that makes perfect sense. Hm. Well, if you want to hold off on rebooting this one, I’d love to share it 🙂
I’ll not do so until next week. And sorry, I didn’t know that happened.
After the 12th would be lovely 🙂
Will do 🙂
Diana, I’ve had a moment!!!!! If you can still see the ‘my midnight’ post for your repost there’s no need to do anything. If you can’t, let me know. I moved it to ‘featured’ to stop myself touching it and now it’s no longer in the normal blog posts. I’ve tried to put it back but can’t. I hope you can still link to it. I’ll try again if you can’t. (I’m useless!!!)
It still works 🙂 Thanks so much. I love sharing your work and have been foiled so many times! I went ahead an scheduled it while I was checking. We’re all set!
PS thank you, I’d be honoured. 🙂
Beautiful. I wondered ever so briefly if she were the sea, but alas, no……
Not quite.
Beautiful prose.
Thank you 🙂
That was very impressive, do you have many more like this lurking in your hard drive?
Do I sound like I’m nuts if I say hundreds?
No but maybe you should think about an anthology if they are as good as this one
That’s very kind, Eric. I might one day. My next but one published book will be more of an anthology than a run of the mill novel, so I’ll see how that goes.
I’m looking forward to reading it when it eventually comes out.
This was absolutely beautiful! I LOVED it! ❤
Thanks, Sonyo. I’m really pleased you enjoyed it.
Wow, this is another magnificent piece.
I would gladly read those other 999 or so;-)
XxX
And the rest. I keep finding them LOL
Another absolutely beautiful post, Richard. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thanks, Suzanne. 🙂
Diana brought me here today, and I am sure glad she did. What an ethereal piece, it could be taken to mean anything. Your writing is magical, and so vivid I felt I was watching an intense film, rather than reading 🙂
Thank you very much, Diana’s an angel. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. 🙂
Richard, you are justifiably right to be proud of this and thank you so much for sharing it – this should definitely see the light of day! A beautiful magical lyrical piece and wonderful to read aloud!
Thank you, Annika. I’m really pleased you liked it.
I too came from Diana’s blog share. Beautiful writing and so passionate.
Thank you, Mary. Much appreciated. 😄
Ah, yes. Left to “fester in a file on my laptop.” I feel your pain. I’m glad you gave it some fresh, salty sea air. This is beautifully done. Gorgeous imagery.
Thanks, Sarah. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Hopped here from Diana’s page. Great craft. I imagined that the characters were personifications of Day and Night (or the sun and the night sky, specifically).
Thanks, Erik. And yes, you’re spot on.
Beautiful post. I pictured every last detail. I’ve read so many pieces lacking such exquisite imagery. I wish you much luck with your future projects.
Thank you, Erika, I really appreciate that. 🙂
I hopped over from Diana’s blog and what a wonderful story I found…such lyrical prose and imagery is very rare these days! Loved it and would like to re-read it. Thanks Richard.
That’s very kind. I’m really pleased you enjoyed it.
A very beautiful piece, Richard. Somehow, I became unfollowed from your blog, I don’t know how. Think I have managed to fix it now so I can enjoy your great posts.
Thanks, Robbie. And don’t worry at all. I’ve a problem where WP says I’m following, shows I’m following but never displays certain folks’ posts. Very frustrating.
Wow, I love this story, so poetic and magical.
Thanks, Kristina. 🙂
Romantic love, never goes out of fashion
Thanks, Sylvie.
Im so glad you decided to share this….and even more glad I took a few minutes to read and ENJOY it 🙂 So marvelous, Richard!
Thank you. I always liked that one, it was very me. I’m glad you did. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. Loved it and i could still feel the sadness that engulfs him
Thank you very much.
Amazing…. So beautifully expressed!
Thank you very much. 🙂
I’ve been away too long, I missed your beautiful words 🙂
It’s good to see you, Helen. And thank you. 🙂
exquisite – jewellike
Thanks, John. Very kind. 🙂
A magical dream where emotions are a fantasy.
Thank you very much 🙂
lovely tale of your midnight goddess and the adulation u held for her. p.s. Never hurts to reach out — with grace.
Very true. 🙂