He remembers it clearly. As if it happened just a while ago, every second of it, like a vivid lucid dream, the smell of the air, the grasses beneath his feet. that one moment of tranquility brought by that heavenly vision. The sunset.
And to his right, with her hand in his, the woman he loves, they share that perfect scene that could have lasted forever. She leans over and kisses him. He smiles, whispers a short prayer and tells her " I love you..." In his heart he prays that none of it would end, their love would endure all odds, and if God permits, the sunset.
But no. That's the beauty of the sunset, it has to end. The cycle must go on. The sun rises, gradually spreads and fills the earth with light, at noon, it burns ever more radiant like everything it touches would burn into a cinder, then it slowly calms down. The fire rages and surges and we are deceived. Watching it from afar, we see it die out and claimed by the night, captured and enslaved by the dark, but its flame... it lingers on.
Hands clasped together, he silently prays that like the sunset they are watching, their love wont die out, just as the sun rises and sets it will always be rekindled by fire, a million tomorrows, a thousand and times more goodbyes to each day that passes, that vision of forever will live with them.
The blue sky breaks into an orange outburst, almost like crimson. God's own hand colors it blue, violet, red orange, electric sky shimmers with light. A dazzling display of colors, the beauty and wonder of the heavens before them, serene, eternal.
They fall into a tight embrace, now he kisses her, their eyes speaks only what the heart could comprehend.
She keeps her promise.
To watch a million sunsets with him.
(photo taken by the author in Bicol March 23 2007)