He Forgets God for a Moment
Three nights later we had the same watch again. I was at the bow and he had the stern. We had not spoken much those two days. I missed our conversations. I went down to the stern.
"Hello," I said.
He looked at me, but said nothing.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
He looked out across the ocean. "Those words you said, that other night. Did you mean them?"
"I did," I said, taking off my hat.
"Really meant it?" Peter asked. He glanced at me but his gaze stayed mostly on the ocean.
"Everything," I said.
Peter straightened up and looked at me. I knew he was thinking it all over. After a stretch of time he walked over to me and embraced me again. It was a hug, and I hugged him back. It was still against God to do what he wanted. I felt a deep sorrow for my friend that night.
He pulled away and I looked up at him and smiled. We stood that way for a while. When my neck began to hurt I started to lower my head. Peter pushed me back against the ship railing when I did. I looked to the side, fearing I would blush if I looked at him.
Peter leaned down and kissed me again. I closed my eyes and savored the feeling of his lips on mine. He moved away, but I kept them closed. I wanted to remember it as long as I could.
When I did open my eyes Peter was gone, the only evidence of his existence the feeling he left in me.