Subtle Charm

SUBTLE CHARM

Karet Beach.

If it weren’t for my parents—who literally pushed me onto the bus—I wouldn’t be walking on this beach right now; exactly one month ago, I lost my wife when she succumbed to that damned cancer, after fighting like a heroine. I can’t forget her. But at the same time, my mother told me I had to move on with my life. She’s right, but what’s the point of a life without her?

This cool sea breeze fills my lungs with energy, even though my legs are tired from walking on the sand. I see a woman walking toward me, and a few steps later we pass each other. She says, “Hello,” in a clear, melodious voice that reminds me of Jazmín’s. I used to call her Jazz… I turn to return the greeting, and at a glance I realize she has a statuesque figure with tanned skin. We both continue on our way in opposite directions. I reach the end of this little beach formed by the small bay. I’m here because it’s a spot rarely visited by tourists, and it gives me exactly the solitude I need to keep tormenting myself with my grief; I can’t help it… Some jagged rocks mark the end of the beach; I turn around and retrace my steps. The sun is rapidly setting, and its rays are no longer as intense as they were at the start of this walk. I look ahead and see the woman I passed a few minutes ago; I don’t know how much time has passed. Now she’s wearing a white dress with a very wide skirt that flutters in the breeze. Time seems to have a different dimension than usual; even the waves seem to move slowly, and the sound of the water is like a murmur.

With every step I take, I look more closely at the woman, until we’re almost face to face. “Hello,” she repeats her greeting; mine gets stuck in my throat. Am I mesmerized or hallucinating? Because as I look at her closely, I see a striking resemblance to my Jazz.

“Hello,” she murmured, forcing a smile.

“Do we know each other?” she asks with a sweet smile on her beautiful face.

I can’t come up with a coherent answer; my heart is racing.

Two seconds later, I say, “Yes, we crossed paths not long ago.” Memories flooded my mind, and I recalled the brief time my wife and I were happy together… a mere three years…

“Well, I’m glad we’ve met again.”

“Me too,” I said, which struck me as stupid.

We stood there for about two minutes without saying a word; the silence was captivating, and only our gazes were locked on each other’s eyes.

“I have to go,” she said in a whisper that blended with the sea breeze. I nodded slightly. I couldn’t tell her, “Stay with me for the rest of my life. I beg you.”

She shook her head as if she’d heard my plea. She took a step back, and it seemed to me as if she were rising. She was; I watched her in surprise as she continued to rise, never taking her eyes off me.

The layers of her skirt billowed out, and slowly

wearing a very full skirt that flutters in the breeze. Time seems to have a different dimension than usual; even the waves seem to move slowly, and the sound of the water is like a murmur.

With every step I take, I look more closely at the woman, until we’re almost face to face. “Hello,” she repeats her greeting; mine gets stuck in my throat. Am I mesmerized or hallucinating? Because as I look at her closely, I see a striking resemblance to my Jazz.

“Hello,” she murmured, forcing a smile.

“Do we know each other?” she asks with a sweet smile on her beautiful face.

I can’t come up with a coherent answer; my heart is racing.

Two seconds later, I say, “Yes, we crossed paths not long ago.” Memories flooded my mind, and I recalled the brief time my wife and I were happy together… a mere three years…

“Well, I’m glad we’ve met again.”

“Me too,” I said, which struck me as stupid.

We stood there for about two minutes without saying a word; the silence was captivating, and only our gazes were locked on each other’s eyes.

“I have to go,” she said in a whisper that blended with the sea breeze. I nodded slightly. I couldn’t tell her, “Stay with me for the rest of my life. I beg you.”

She shook her head as if she’d heard my plea. She took a step back, and it seemed to me as if she were rising. She was; I watched her in surprise as she continued to rise, never taking her eyes off me. Wearing a very full skirt that swayed in the breeze. Time seems to have a different dimension than usual; even the waves seem to move slowly, and the sound of the water is like a murmur.

With every step I take, I look more closely at the woman, until we’re almost face to face. “Hello,” she repeats her greeting; mine gets stuck in my throat. Am I hypnotized or hallucinating? Because, looking at her up close, I see a striking resemblance to my Jazz.

“Hello,” she murmured, flashing a forced smile.

“Do we know each other?” she asks with a sweet smile on her beautiful face.

I can’t think of a coherent answer; my heart is racing.

Two seconds later, I say, “Yes, we ran into each other a little while ago.” Memories flood my mind, and I recall the brief time my wife and I were happy together… barely three years…

“Well, I’m glad we’ve run into each other again.”

“Me too,” I said, which struck me as silly.

We stood there for about two minutes without saying a word; the silence was captivating, and only our gazes were locked in each other’s eyes.

“I have to go,” she said in a whisper that mingled with the sea breeze. I nodded slightly. I couldn’t bring myself to say, “Stay with me for the rest of my life. I beg you.”

She shook her head, as if she’d heard my plea. She took a step back, and it seemed to me as if she were rising. That’s exactly what was happening; I watched her in astonishment as she continued to rise, never taking her eyes off me.

The layers of her skirt fluttered; the flowing layers of her skirt spread outward and, slowly, her entire figure transformed into a delicate butterfly. It keeps fluttering upward, higher and higher, until it merges with the deep blue of the sky. I fall to my knees, weeping bitterly...