Living In The Moment | Teen Ink

Living In The Moment

March 14, 2009
By nextkidd30 SILVER, Oregon, Wisconsin
nextkidd30 SILVER, Oregon, Wisconsin
7 articles 0 photos 45 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts."
-- William Shakespeare


I walked along the small wooden bridge that weaved its way through a thicket of trees. The lamps that bordered the outside lit everything just enough so I could see where I was going. The sun had just gone down and the sky was as clear as ever. I didn't bother to bring a notebook or anything. I didn't feel like writing. All I really wanted to do was relax. The sky was so clear and the stars seemed so big that when I looked out my window after dinner I got tempted into going to the beach for a while.

I walked for a few minutes before the trees around me began to disappear and the wood under my feet gradually turned into sand. The sounds of the ocean began to make itself apparent and before I knew it the trees were gone. Nothing but the open sea was in front of me. The stars filled the sky from horizon to horizon, and a small crescent moon was randomly placed in the middle of it all.

I slipped off my sandals and felt the cool sand on the bottoms of my feet. It was quiet and peaceful, not a soul around. Only the sounds of the crashing waves could be heard and the stars seemed about three times as bright than they were back home.

When I went closer to the water I could smell the dampness in the air. It was refreshing. It wasn't a feeling I was accustomed to. Once in sight of the tide I walked along the shoreline, just taking in the natural beauty of it all. The night seemed so calm.

I continued to walk slowly along the beach, just out of reach of the growing tide, and I periodically looked up into the sky. Everything above me made me feel so small, so insignificant. After a few minutes along the shore I went up the beach a little ways to look for a place to sit down. It was then when I spotted someone sitting in the distance. I could only see what looked like the dark outline of a young woman. I couldn't see anything more, but I had a feeling I knew who it was.

I approached her. There wasn't enough light to see her face clearly, but I could imagine her dark eyes and brown hair when she turned her head towards me. My heart began to beat a little harder.

'I was hoping I'd see you here.' She said as I approached.

'You did?' I responded.

'Yeah, this seemed like too beautiful of an opportunity for you to pass up. So I figured you'd come.' Her voice was really soft, almost a whisper.

I set down my sandals and sat in the sand next to her. I crossed my legs at my ankles and leaned back onto my elbows, just as she was doing. 'If I can't become inspired from a night like this, than I probably don't have any hope.' I said.

'Still searching for that inspiration, huh?'

'Yeah . . . I am. And the only thing I've found that helps is talking to you.'

She took a deep breath and then laid flat on the sand before responding. 'Glad I could help.'

After a minute I did the same. I could feel the grains of sand shifting to contour to my body. 'I'm beginning to wonder whether of not this was what I was meant to do, you know?'

'What?'

'I just'I don't know.' I sighed. 'You ever think about what you were meant to do in your life?'

'Too many times actually.' She began. 'And every time I think about it the answer always seems to change. Right now though, I'm meant to paint. And to sketch. And to draw. I was meant to put earth's beauty onto a canvas.'

'It's easy to say that when you know what your passionate about.' I responded.

'And you're not passionate about your writing?'

'Well, I am. It's just'maybe I wasn't meant to become an author.'

'What else could you be meant for?'

'I don't know. Nothing, I guess.'

She paused for a moment. 'Everyone's meant for something. Even you.'

Silence.

'You don't believe me.' She said.

'Well if what you say is true then what am I meant to do?'

'Above all else'above painting and writing. Above athletics and money. Above anything else in this world is the fact that everyone, including you and I, were meant to love.' She said.

I was surprised by her response. 'Love . . . you use the term so loosely.'

'But I don't.' She said, running her fingers softly over my hand. Her touch was gentle and I let her fingers run though my own. Her grip tightened slightly, as if she were making sure I wouldn't let go. I had no intention of ever letting go.

I turned towards her for a second wanting to see her face. A surge of emotion entered my body, and at the moment I wanted nothing more than to hold her in my arms and to kiss her. I saw a smile come onto her face.

'This would make a nice short story.' She said after a moment, her voice was still almost a whisper.

'What's that?'

'You and I . . . this weekend . . . right now.' She replied.

'I guess'maybe. An even better portrait if you ask me though.' I said.

'It'd be difficult to see the canvas wouldn't it?'

'Yeah.'

'But we could wait.' She responded.

'Until when?'

'Sunrise.' She said, letting go of my hand to reach behind her. She pulled out a blanket and spread it across our lower body. She put her arm around my stomach and then laid her head onto my chest. 'I told you I was hoping you'd come.'

She was so close I could feel her breathing as her chest rhythmically went up and down. My body suddenly felt weightless and my heart began to beat quicker. I wondered if she could hear it.

'Something tells me that tomorrow is going to hurt.' I began after a few minutes, speaking softly.

'Yeah . . . I know.' She said. 'To think that in only a few hours we'll be leaving each other. It's hard to imagine never being able to see you again.' She sighed. 'It's something I don't think we should talk about right now through.' She lifted her head and looked at me. 'Sometimes living in the moment is the best thing to do. I really don't want to think too far ahead. Right now, I've never felt so happy.' She leaned in to plant a soft kiss on my lips. She pulled her head away slowly, paused a second to smile, and then laid her head back down onto my chest where it was before.

Neither of us said anything for the rest of the evening. There was no need. She was right, why think into the future when the present is so fulfilling? There was a part of me that didn't want to sleep. I wished it would never end. Her body against mine made me nice and warm though, and her rhythmic breathing began to make me drowsy. Before I knew it my eyes were beginning to droop. I took one last look up at the stars and then subconsciously closed my eyes, falling asleep.



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This article has 131 comments.


on Mar. 20 2010 at 11:26 pm
Allison101 BRONZE, Milwaukee/Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
4 articles 5 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
Love doesn't make the world go round, it just makes the ride enjoyable. -Franklin P. Jones

love thissss <3 so sweet

on Mar. 18 2010 at 6:59 am
paranomial PLATINUM, Hyderabad, Other
21 articles 0 photos 55 comments
amazing...i fell in love wid it <3 seriously..it too good

Katie7 BRONZE said...
on Mar. 17 2010 at 12:12 am
Katie7 BRONZE, Whitney, Texas
2 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is like a port-a-potty, you never know what you're going to find.
When life gives you lemons, put them in your sweet tea and thank god your a southern belle.

I really liked your what you wrote, and I think you'll make a very good writer someday. :)

on Mar. 15 2010 at 6:30 pm
ohmigosh! I just love how you've wriiten this! It seems so effortless in the flow of it all~<3

N.Sweet GOLD said...
on Mar. 15 2010 at 7:30 am
N.Sweet GOLD, Roslyn Heights, New York
10 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes to you, to make each day count." -- Jack Dawson, Titanic

I'm in love <3 This is unbelievable! Keep writing!!

on Feb. 24 2010 at 6:08 pm
nextkidd30 SILVER, Oregon, Wisconsin
7 articles 0 photos 45 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts."
-- William Shakespeare

state, I meant.

on Feb. 23 2010 at 8:12 pm
nextkidd30 SILVER, Oregon, Wisconsin
7 articles 0 photos 45 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts."
-- William Shakespeare

Thanks a lot, I appreciate that.

Oh and by the way North Carolina is my favorite stay. haha i'm not just sayin that either.

on Feb. 22 2010 at 9:41 pm
nicdal85 SILVER, Charlotte, North Carolina
8 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be kind to everyone you meet, because you never know what people are going through"
-im not sure, i'll find out=)

you have an amazing way with words,

keep it up=)

on Feb. 21 2010 at 4:50 am
Acalleq PLATINUM, Togiak, Alaska
22 articles 5 photos 146 comments

Favorite Quote:
you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have

cool beans. keep it up

on Feb. 9 2010 at 10:18 pm
nextkidd30 SILVER, Oregon, Wisconsin
7 articles 0 photos 45 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts."
-- William Shakespeare

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your nice comments.

billydee22ny said...
on Feb. 9 2010 at 8:27 pm
billydee22ny, Middletown, Maryland
0 articles 6 photos 21 comments
this is mad good and i really enjoyed reading this from a guy's point of view. i wish i was that girl. you're a wonderful writer.

on Feb. 5 2010 at 5:50 am
Rosalie PLATINUM, Maryville, Tennessee
48 articles 0 photos 100 comments

Favorite Quote:
-you have many to learn but nothing to lose.
-the hardest thing to do is watch the one you love, love someone else...
-good girls are bad girls that dont get caught.

this is so beautiful!

keep up the good work!

SageSin GOLD said...
on Feb. 2 2010 at 9:45 am
SageSin GOLD, Oaklawn, Illinois
11 articles 0 photos 63 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Accept everything about yourself. I mean everything. You are you, and that is the beginning and the end; No apologies, no regrets."

My thoughts on this article bring me to tears. Don't get me wrong it was a type of piece i am unable to describe because of the imense beauty it shines as but, the thought of losing something so close and precious holds the right to let a tear be shed Sensational simply Sensational

on Jan. 31 2010 at 9:44 am
JohnnyDeppLover123 DIAMOND, Holyoke, Massachusetts
54 articles 0 photos 146 comments

Favorite Quote:
Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
William Shakespeare

Ha, ha, ha welcome it was my pleasure to read it!!! :)

on Jan. 31 2010 at 8:00 am
nextkidd30 SILVER, Oregon, Wisconsin
7 articles 0 photos 45 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts."
-- William Shakespeare

thank you so much.

on Jan. 30 2010 at 9:39 pm
JohnnyDeppLover123 DIAMOND, Holyoke, Massachusetts
54 articles 0 photos 146 comments

Favorite Quote:
Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
William Shakespeare

Wow that was amazing! awesome job... keep writing because your are really good at it. It was so detailed and awesome you deserve being number 1!!! :)

on Jan. 30 2010 at 2:43 pm
DustyOfMine BRONZE, Cincinnati, Ohio
1 article 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"And since I am dead I can take off my head, to recite, Shakespeare in quotations. No animal, nor man, can SCEAM like I can, with the fury of my reciatation."

Your writing is so pationate, and realistic, I felt as if i were there also. Keep writing you're amazing!

on Jan. 30 2010 at 11:45 am
pfeferminz SILVER, Sebastopol, California
9 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
Everyone has the right to be stupid but some people abuse the privilege......

WOw i could have sworn i was on the beach!

on Jan. 30 2010 at 10:22 am
flare556 BRONZE, Fultonville, New York
2 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
I like pie!

Wow I really enjoyed this! It was very well written and has such great detail I could've sworn I thought this was true untill I read the other comments! Awsum job please write more!

on Jan. 11 2010 at 6:51 pm
nextkidd30 SILVER, Oregon, Wisconsin
7 articles 0 photos 45 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts."
-- William Shakespeare

I really appreciate your kind words. They totally made my day!