Watercolours And Smiles

Gentle waves lapped the shore as you gazed longingly out to sea. The tropics were brimming with heat. A celestial glow glistened off the long jetty that stretched out to the horizon. Your long blonde hair blew in the soft breeze, your dress swaying like a flag. My heart shimmered as I stepped onto the jetty. I knew I had to approach. I had waited all my life to see you again. Every fibre of my being had been fixated on this meeting for years. It had to be here, it just had to be here that I found you.

You looked back at me, knowing that I was walking towards you. The sound of tropical birds seemed to get louder and the trumpets of anxiety were deafening as my eyes met yours. With every step of my flip flops on the wooden beams beneath, I was thinking of what to say. My lips were dry as I walked closer and closer towards you. 

‘Hello its been a long time’ I was surprised I was able to meet with my voice.

‘Yes it has. You knew I would be here didn't you? I cannot tell you how long I have waited to see you, to here your voice…’ 
Your complexion looked more and more vibrant up close.

Yes I did. I just knew somehow. You always dreamed of living in your paintings. Being able to immerse yourself in the different shades of blue, feel the ocean breeze on your face, your skin burning in the heat. It must feel amazing’.

‘Yes it is blissful. This was my only opportunity to feel it. And now that you have found me, I feel complete, as if my life has gone full circle’ You say.

‘Yes it’s a shame I never managed to take you here, you would have loved it for your paintings, it’s picture perfect.’ Slight tears well up in my eyes as I speak.

‘Please don’t cry! How are things?’ You say giving me that unmistakable look.

‘Life’s good thank you. The kids are just playing in the water with Sandra, they love it here.’

‘You happy with the way you are living?’ You ask.

‘Yes making lots of money, as you can tell being in such a stunning place as this’

‘You make me proud’

You bring me to tears, standing with an awkward stance. I want to touch you but cant.

‘Well you always made me proud‘. I say while sobbing.

‘I must go now David, you know I have to’ You say with a slice of guilt.

I take in a much needed breath of air and pour my heart out to you.

‘I wish I could stay here forever, see those beautiful green eyes again and again. The warmth of your presence. The scent you have, like the summer blossom. Its as if the sky has beckoned us, enclosed us in a bubble of love. The sun showing us the way to eternity. I love you with all my heart. You were there through all the hard times and all the good times. You were my rock on a stormy sea, my faithful shell of hope. I owe my life to you’.

You look back at me with a glowing smile. Without a reply. You vanish into the sea blue sky. I shed more tears, knowing that the moment had gone. Faded into the waves as you left. Would we ever meet again? I could only dream. I took a slow stroll back onto the beach where Sandra and the children were playing football. 

‘You were daydreaming over there weren't you’ Said Sandra with a cheeky grin

‘Yes I had lost track of time. I’m sorry‘. I wipe my eyes frantically.

‘Don’t worry about it, we are here to relax’

The children surrounded me, attempting to pin me to the ground, I grab one and wrestle him onto the sand, tickling his tummy. A folded piece of paper falls from the pocket of my shorts. Sandra notices it

‘You dropped this’

‘Its okay you can open it’

She slowly unfolds the paper, that is slightly torn and well fingered. It’s a painting of the beach with the jetty, the sun beaming down, kids playing in the sand, a family scene depicted in a beautiful watercolour’

Did you do this? ’ Sandra asked with a puzzled look.

‘No of course not but if you walk to the end of that Jetty you will find the lady who did. I’m sure she would want to meet you’

She looked at me with a confused look. Sammy jumped on my back, grabbing my neck and pulling at my wavy hair.

‘Come on you little rascal’ I chased after him running in the deep sand and falling over several times, clumsily.

Meanwhile Sandra’s inquisitiveness gets the better of her, she turns over the painting and reads to herself the sloppy handwriting on the back.


To David,

I hope one day you will find yourself in this painting. Find a wife who appreciates you and loves you as much as I do. I hope you have children, you will make a great Dad, you always had a knack with children right from an early age. I don’t have long left as you know. But I just want to tell you this. Make something of your life, Be someone. Be love, Be kindness. Be hope and be faith. I wish I would have done more in my life, gone to the places that I created in my paintings but my time is nearly up. Yours has only just began. Don’t die with your music still in you. I love you and I hope when I’m gone you will find me in this painting somewhere in the tropics maybe on a business trip or family holiday. Whatever you do don’t forget to smile.

Love Mum xxx

---

I walk back to Sandra exhausted after chasing Sammy. I smile instantly knowing she had read the letter on the back. 

‘You have made her proud David, you have made her very proud. She said

I Don’t forget to smile and never did from that day on.