Star Gazing - a vignette

They sat under the stars on a bench overlooking the water with their heads directed upwards, gazing at the night sky. He was leaned back, legs crossed with an arm around her shoulder while pointing here and there, describing the different constellations and meanings that only someone who had studied the science would know.

After some time had passed and a quiet comfort had settled over the couple, they stood to leave. Before going, he turned and rubbed his hand over the back of the bench to show her the places where he had carved into the wood in his youth. He had left three different hearts, each holding two sets of initials, his and those of a long ago love. Even though the carvings and the bench had been painted over probably hundreds of times, the carvings were still discernible in the dark. And she knew they would remain long after they left.

As they began their ascent back to the car, a feeling came over her and she paused to look back at the water and the bench. She had the sudden urge to run back to that bench and carve a new heart into the wood, putting her initials with his and marking this moment, on this night. Glancing at him, she realized that all she really wanted was to make their time together real. A mark etched in time by a simple carving on a bench, without regard for what the future might hold.

She smiled to herself and the moment passed. So, she continued her walk to the car.