Action Man

The time was 18:00 when Tanya and Moshe arrived at Paphos Airport. Before tomorrow was their last day together. In just a couple of hours, they will have to travel home, to their separate lives in two different countries.

After Bags checked in ,both sat down side by side, her head tilted on his shoulder. Tourists met by their Tour Guides, relatives welcoming one another.

She looked up at him as he relaxed wearing his Blue Cap. She snuggles back onto his shoulder in reminiscence on their last day spent together.

                                  ***

Moshe woke up earlier that morning. He leaned over to his Girlfriend and watched, while she laid asleep. Her Rosey Red Cheeks almost sun-kissed. The rim of her body entwined over the rippled White Cotton Sheet. A light breeze swirled in from the open Window a bright Blue Sky, in view from his bedside. 

 In the month of March, the couple spent nine days together. Warm throughout the Day and cold during the night. Just How Moshe liked it. He took a deep breath and inhaled the fresh Sea Air continuing in relaxation.

Then, quietly he searched for the Poppy kept in his pocket from last evening, slightly withered but was sure she’d be touched by the gesture. He placed it on the Bedside Table. With a wrapped Note, inviting her to come down and meet him on the Beach.

Moshe left before the weather was hot, he detested the heat. Worried about Tanya’s little Red Nose. So he added….Make sure to put Sun Cream on your Body and Face. He kissed her freckled cheek.

Moshe closed the Door slowly and left. The Sea breeze refreshed his Face. Waves crawled gently to the shore. Taken his time to enter it. The splashes inviting. He dived in and swam fearlessly.

Back at the Apartment, Tanya had woken up, rolled over to embrace him, but Moshe wasn’t in Bed…. Just creases in the sheets. Used to his usual routine, he was either -jogging or Swimming.

She gazed at the Mirror while seated on the dressing room table. Her puffy eyes sore, from crying last night:

 I give my whole Heart while you keep yours in reserve.

She'd opened up her Diary

July 5th, 2019 - Moshe told me: “he would never hurt me.” 

Words are so easy to say, aren’t they? 

And here they were one-year later….

Plans for their future were at a standstill. Moshe’s own onsets of doubts and insecurities made him act distant towards her, incapable of expressing any emotion at times. But still, she vowed in her heart not to give up on him. One day he will be fully committed. And hoped in time he would ask her to marry him.

Tanya paced into the Kitchen. Opened the Fridge to take the Milk, she placed it on the Tabletop. Took a Cup out of the Cupboard, For eight mornings she’d be complaining to Moshe: The Cups were too small without handles .The Coffee he had bought tasted bitter. Moshe had gotten used to her pecking. Still, he advised not to waste money on buying an item that would be of no use in the long term. Although He did have a point, she wouldn’t exactly be taking the newly bought cup in her suitcase…. there wasn’t any room for it anyway.

She stared out the window while the Kettle boiled. Admired the Cacti trees that stood still along the dusty roadside, the old Blue Shutters the Pealed Brick Walls. Every other morning, a little old lady who lived in the Cypriot Village hung out her washing, usually waved to Tanya, and she would gesture back politely. Maybe she’d be able to greet her for the last time. But there was no sign of her. All she could hear were the tweeting of Birds. 

They stayed in, a self-contained Studio, own private Bathroom. An open Kitchen they both really liked. She glazed over the room one last time.No more fancy Candlelight Dinners, or driving Moshe crazy swinging side to side on the high stool she was seated on. 

Down at the Beach, he wondered, was she ok? It had been a while since she was supposed to come. He rushed upstairs. Moshe opened the Door and stormed into the Kitchen. Tanya nonchalantly reading her book, twirling side to side on the stool as she sipped her coffee. 

She bounced up in excitement to greet him

Moshe stood still, Shorts drenched.

 “Tanya …Stop twirling. You know It makes me dizzy”

She giggled softly, water dripping on the floor. 

“Baby, look… you're making such a mess” She stood up and went to take the Kitchen Roll.

Moshe took back the Red Poppy and note from the Bedside Table.

Tanya on her Knees, wiping up the spots of Puddles ,he gently massaged her Shoulder to get her attention .

“Oh … by the way In the morning ….I left this for you.” 

 There was a long silence between them as she read it. Her blood pump raced. For countless times, She’d complain to Moshe for never being romantic:

“I’m so sorry for not noticing, Baby…” Moshe pulled her up from the Floor.

“You were just too busy … overthinking” He whispered

He pulled her in close. She leaned against his neatly curved biceps, her little belly pressed against his small tummy. How she loved to kiss his Tummy. She gazed into the eyes, of his creased expression.

 “Come on, go pack your things meantime. I’ll make us breakfast … By the way …make sure you put on that Sun Cream .” Moshe reminded her.

Tanya gathered her clothes and folded them neatly. Like a Little Girl, been given instructions from a Father. She opens the wardrobe to find Moshe’s items are all packed and ready to go. Had been a soldier in the Army made him self sufficient. 

Moshe taken all that was left in the Fridge, he was strictly against wastage of any Food. With Eggs, Milk, some plain flower Banana, and Honey. He decided to cook Pancakes for Breakfast. How his Mother used to make for Him. Moshe taken the Pan added the Oil and proceeded to make the Mix. 

After 10 Minutes the crispy, thin Golden Pancakes were neatly presented on two White Plates. 

“Baby…Come here please, it’s ready ” he said in his usual  authoritarian tone.

The sweet smell flowed through the Air.

Moshe gathered the Silver cutlery. Tanya hurried in. The table already set. She took the Cups out from the Cupboard,

“Ahh … your favorite Cup” he blurted out sarcastically:

“Just for the last time “ Tanya Giggled

Moshe shook his head and smiled

Once they arrived at the Beach. Moshe leads the way. He found a place by the Rocks for them to sit.

He could see her mind was in deep thought

“Tanya. Please, let's enjoy the moment, we can never get this back.”

She felt a sudden lack of security, remembering his words from her Diary

“ Well… are we still going to stay in 

contact, when we return back to our lives?”

Moshe nervously replied “I .. don't know” 

Her heart felt it was about to freeze, her whole world stopped at that moment. She rushed to leave and proceeded to pace in front of him. The uncertainty of having her happy ending was never so clear.

“How could you say this to me after a year of being together ?”

Moshe took her hand gently I don’t know. Please stop, just sit down.”

Moshe stared out to the Sea, sunlight perfected his Eyes.

“You know …who am I to ruin your life?” Tanya … Once we take the next step to Marriage. I take full responsibility for you .”

Tanya clenched his hand, she stared at him again . A tear was falling but she wouldn’t let it spill.

“Tanya, I can’t afford to make any mistakes. You need to be a little more patient.”

“Let’s go.” Moshe led the way to the Sea.

But Tanya wasn’t a strong swimmer.

“Okay, we won't go in too far, you just follow me.” He Instructed 

Moshe held her hand, the water cold, she screamed and tripped over into the shallow water. He quickly attended to her side and held her uprightly. 

His dry mousey brown hair turned jet black when it was wet. Trinkets of Water dripped down his face.

In a serious tone Moshe explained:

“Okay so, the first lesson… see if you can front float properly arms out your face in the water.”

But …She wasn't too comfortable with putting her face deep into the water. Instead, Moshe advised to try and stay afloat, would be to lay on her back but she just kept splashing water around.

“I can swim only… in shallow water.”

“ I know ….then place both hands onto my Shoulders and swim behind me” 

She flapped her feet like a teenager. 

Moving along the waves from side to side she felt peaceful. The reflection of the Sun seen on top of the surface. Many other swimmers around. A couple together Kissed. She suddenly felt alone, amidst the seashore. Unusual large strands of Seaweed disturbed her. Just as She was about to panic.

Moshe swam towards her. 

“Tanya, don’t be scared I'm here. Baby, It’s ok. I got you.”

He took her into his arms, now they were the Couple caressing in Sea and she was no longer afraid.

***

Awoken by the echo of the Airport intercom. It was time for Tanya and Moshe to say goodbye.

They both embraced.

As she was about to board the Plane :

Phone beeped 

“ I love you, my Baby. Don’t worry about anything.”

This was all she needed to hear