Giving into the Moment

     The sun had set; it was long gone, past the valley, past the mountainous horizon. I was sitting on the deck of our stilted house. Head cocked to the inky dark blue fathomless sky, I was transfixed by the blazing stars. Clear and bright. I only had one night, and then, I’d be back on the road, on a new page. I had only one night with the brilliant stars and boundless sky. Only one night with the wooden house lumbering above the ground on stilts. And most importantly I had only one night with the person beside me. “Carpe Diem,” my sister had always told me. With this in mind, I fought back my weariness that had built itself up over the past two weeks of travel.

     He was dressed in Orange. A Bright youthful expression painted his tanned sun kissed face. He was fifteen. The Dai village monks went into training for three or four years to learn the practice of Buddhism. We had talked about legends, about the stars, about the weather, about the city, my home, his home, life, and beauty.

     “So beautiful!” I exclaimed, pointing out the Big Dipper, I continued to explain the legend behind the constellations. We talked about how the stars helped sailors navigate. He nodded, added a few questions- light conversation. I was shivering.

     “You cold?” he asked, looking concerned.

     “No, No”, I persisted. I guess I wasn’t too convincing, I thought, as he took his once bright, now slightly faded, cape and wrapped it around us both. I returned my gaze to the heavens. “They are so big and there are so many of them.” My neck was aching. “Which is your favorite?” I asked. He didn’t respond.

     Silence enveloped us, it wrapped around us tighter than the orange cape. Embracing us, it pulled our two worlds harmoniously into one. The wind was singing. It serenaded my mind, luring me to explore the beauty of the night. Words weren’t needed; we stood in silence with out the hindrance of language.

     He looked at me, into my eyes, I gazed back. He smiled; his eyes were bright and glowing in the starlight. Leaning over, he kissed me on the cheek. I was taken by complete surprise. I turned red, and smiled embarrassed; I didn’t know what to do. I returned my gaze to the sky.

     Pointing to a blue bright star twinkling slightly northeast of the horizon, I said, “That one is my favorite, it’s so beautiful.”

     He looked at me again, into my eyes. Again, I gazed back. He smiled again a broad smile showing his white teeth, and showing me his beauty. His eyes this time were questioning. I couldn’t help to reciprocate to that brilliant smile. A second later, my cheeks were cracking with dimples and a broad smile broke out over my face. His eyes brightened and reflected the starlight. Leaning over, he kissed me, this time on the lips. I couldn’t help to give into the silence, to give into the starlight, to give into his bright smile, and to give into this perfect moment.