The Hand Holders

A radically different kind of love

The man parked his car in the parking lot on the west side of the little lake. Getting out of his vehicle he began walking the asphalt walking path that led towards the lake. Greeted by birdsong, he took a deep breath of the fresh air and looked up and around him at the tall trees on either side of the path.

The man came to this park almost every single day and it was the greatest joy of each of those days. It is where he came for peace and love.

He walked slowly along the path, taking in every subtle nuance of the natural world around him. As he cleared his mind of thoughts he could feel any and all tension that he held melt away.

Soon, the small lake came into view as did the park bench facing the lake upon which he sat every day. There was a woman sitting on the bench.

The man smiled as he walked towards the bench. His pace accelerated ever so slightly.

Reaching the park bench, he stood in front of it looking down at the woman, “Good morning.”

The woman looked up at him and smiled, “Good morning.”

The man then sat down on the bench to the woman’s right.

Looking at him, the woman spoke, “It certainly has been a good morning. All the waterfowl seem to be…