Thirteen

"How many times had the moment been there, presenting itself as though it would otherwise be sent to die without hearing from itself in its own defense?"

The lady of the morning was an exceptionally beautiful woman, who was filled with laughter heard during the ritual of going down to the lake for a swim. It was at each of these moments that he was able to find the courage to reach out and at least introduce himself to her.

Barry was never so sure of his own confidence, that as he was proceeding forward, was aware that she would swim in the buff. She was an incredibly good swimmer indeed. She never was with anyone else and finally decided on the oddest of days to approach her to at least speak with her.

On the morning of the 13th day of the 12th month, in the Year of our Lord, 1110, Barry set out to make his finally decision to meet up with this woman and introduce himself to her properly.

Barry arrived at the area where the two main roads crossed, waiting to see her passing by. He had even ridden his earlier version of a bicycle, so he could catch up with her if he missed her by some chance. Then he heard her laughter and turned, colliding with the most beautiful face he had ever laid eyes on.

She was caught off guard and they fell backwards. He rose up first, then she did. He jumped up and presented his hands towards hers to help her stand up again. She was still in a daze but regained her composure and smiled. She then laughed and joined in with her. Her laughter was very contagious.

As they were just standing there, he noticed she was only wearing the minimal and thought she was heading out for her daily swim.

Barry blushed and she was laughing again at his embarrassment. He then offered his hand out to shake hers. He spoke hoarsely and blurted out, "My name is Barry." The last part sounded more like a shriek.

She replied, "Nice to meet you Barry, my name is Sandra." "I bet you didn't notice that I saw you watching me down by the lake." "I was wondering when we were going to meet finally."

Barry was a little shy suddenly, and his hands shook with excitement. Sandra was not so shy and asked, "Barry, would you like to join me on my swim down by the lake?"

Barry was not sure that he was ready for this, yet he said, "Why yes I would love to join you and was hoping to would ask me to."

With their hands in each other's, they continued the path that Barry had seen her travel down going to the lake that she went swimming in daily in the nude.

When they arrived at the lake, there was no water to be found, and it was nothing more than mud. Wet, dirty mud, this was a change for them both. So, they walked on heading in the direction of what they thought was the sound of running water.

Barry and Sandra arrived slowly to the location of the running water, to find it made by a water wheel attached to local mill. They were standing there, Sandra had already disrobed and jumped in, leaving Barry on the banks. Barry was not amused and disrobed himself, jumping in behind her.

The water wheel had a strong undercurrent and was pulling to water towards the millrace, starting with the headrace, Barry was being pulled in, but clung to the water wheel, until it came out of the tailrace.

Sandra was screaming out because she was afraid that Barry had been sucked under and when she yelled out his name, he did answer her. Then she saw Barry waving his free arm and was relieved that he had ridden the water wheel from the top to the other side safely.

She swam over to the waterwheel, as she proceeded to copy what Barry had done and landed around the same area.

It was then that Barry reached out and took hold of her arm and pulling her in, helped Sandra get to land. They were exhausted and they were both laughing. She leaned into him and kissed him playfully. He then placed his arms around her waist to hold her in a hug.

This was the beginning of something that would lead them to moments of happiness and love, which would allow them to become friends and then more. "How far would this whole lifetime moment go?"

"What was to become of these two people who were able to meet on the 13th day of the 12th month, in the Year of our Lord 1110?" "Let us just say that they, as friends, were in love from the first day they met. This was from the first time Sandra had seen Barry watching her swim in the lake in the buff."

It was love at first sight, leading to their enduring relationship, which became their engagement, and after a fair amount of time engaged, they wed on the 13th day of the 12th month, the year is not known.

They were blessed with many children, blessed with many grandchildren, and several great grandchildren. They looked at each other lovingly, having a knowing glance that was shared between them. It was a love that would live on even after Barry and Sandra had taken their last breath on Earth.

It would endure the best of times, and it would endure the worst of times. It would be their love that endures sickness and health, endures the wealthiest of times and endures the poorest of times. But it would endure and make it through with them always.

It was a love that would produce poems and poetry, there would be plays written and songs sung. They would pass down through the generations yet to come the love that would be to the moon and back and beyond. ALWAYS and FOREVER.