Natural Beauty

The sun had done quite a number on his skin. Lashing down for the past few days - no clouds in the sky to disrupt its rays. Even amongst the pockets of shade throughout the trails, it still managed to find its way to his shoulders and back of his neck. Licking away any perspiration that had attempted to come to the surface. At first it had felt good. Warm and embracing. Awakening his tired muscles in the morning, pulling out any tiredness that still lingered in his body. But as the days wore on, it began to take its toll. His skin had begun as a light shade of pink, but quickly turned red. The sun had no regard to the sunscreen he had tried to apply - eager to singe him even more. Each day that progressed, he could feel his body absorbing the heat. Every morning he felt hotter than the last. Each night he wore less clothes to bed, hoping for some relief.

So when the water first touched his feet, it stole his breath. Reaching right up through his legs, squeezing his lungs tight. His body had forgotten what cold had felt like. For a moment he couldn't decide if it hurt or if it felt like salvation. As the goosebumps traveled up his body, spreading out from his shoulders all the way down to his fingertips, he let out a sigh - shivers rocketing through his muscles.

Before he had a moment to second guess himself, he dove forward, plunging beneath the surface. At first he was surprised by the current, scooping him up and carrying him along the bottom of the river - the smooth rocks tickling the bottom of his feet. It took him a moment, but he finally settled himself and stood up - leaning into the flowing water, pushing back. He was amazed at how clear his mind felt. How alive he felt. His skin no longer burned. No longer segregated by lines of clothing and backpack straps. Now his entire body was pink - soothed by the fresh mountain water. The longer he sat there, water cascading over his shoulders, the more at peace he was. The cleaner he felt. It had been days since he had been able to shower. He could feel the dirt washing away - his entire body relishing the moment. For a split second, he remembered being a kid, in the boy scouts, told not to drink water that wasn't filtered. But in this instance, he couldn't resist it. He let a little bit flow into his mouth and down his throat. It was so clean. So refreshing. Unlike anything he had ever tasted. It was pure.

As the sun began to fall below the horizon, slowing disappearing over the rim of the valley, golden rays began to break through the trees along the river - illuminating different swaths of the shoreline. He couldn't believe how absolutely beautiful it all was. But then he saw her and he completely forgot about his surroundings. There she was, standing on the bank of the river, toes just a few feet away from the flowing water, a flannel shirt draped over her shoulders. The sun outlining her figure. She looked absolutely perfect. Everything about her. Hair falling down across her face, blowing ever so slightly in the evening breeze, wrapping around the nape of her neck. How her knees touched - the lines and curves of her legs, the roundness of her cheeks. In the disappearing light her skin looked flawless, standing out against the backdrop of trees. He was lost looking at her. Soaking her in. Absolutely enamored. He loved how even after days out in the wilderness she could look so elegant. So alluring. So honest. And she wasn't even trying.

As he continued to float there, she smiled at him and he couldn't help but smile back.

For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was home.