i actually wrote some more

2

            The rest of the afternoon and evening was rainy and windy but surprisingly quiet.  Ralph, it seemed, was somewhat of an introvert so Aiden didn’t have a lot of distractions.  He was, at one time, a somewhat talented writer.  Ever since Ava’s passing, he’d been having severe blocks.  As her memory passed again through his otherwise clear mind, he began to reminisce about their lives together.  She was a beautiful woman.  He remembered in detail the first time he saw her; the memory always made him feel short of breath.  He was taking a leisurely hike through the mountain base surrounding the lake.  A soft ripple in the water below caught his attention and he slowed his pace, making his way over to the edge of the trail.  As he searched for the source of the noise, his eyes landed on her.  She was only 19 years old when they had met, but she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.  She was wearing tattered, worn in blue jeans and a white tank top and she was slowly making her way around the lake trail, tossing a smooth stone in her hand.  She had long wavy chestnut hair that swayed with each step she took and although she was far away, he could see that her eyes were striking.  He dismissed the thought of her; after all, he would be thirty years old in only a few short months and decided he shouldn’t invest his emotions in something so seemingly risky.  He sighed, turned around, and made his way back to his cabin, knowing he would never see her again.

            Despite his better judgment, Aiden continued to take that particular path for the next few weeks, and he saw his beauty more and more, each glimpse causing him to want her more than the last.  During what he decided would be his last walk to find her, Aiden got up the courage to talk to the woman if the opportunity arose.  He was nearing the end of the trail, and there was no one in sight.  Aiden sighed in disappointment and headed slowly again back to the cabin when he heard a sweet, light sound filling the air.  He rushed to the edge of the trail only to see his prize.  She was sitting on a boulder in her tight, worn jeans holding a daisy and humming to herself.  She had one of the most beautiful voices Aiden had ever heard.  He knew that this was it; he knew now was his chance.

            Aiden took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly.  He had no idea he would be this nervous.  As he made his way casually around the lake, he went through a dozen different introductions in his head; nothing seemed appropriate.