The vibrant orange sunset had already begun. The waves rise and recede. The old couple walks along the shore. One slightly further than the other. They had been walking for about an hour already, yet had not said a word to each other.
I'm tired. Of this.
It seems so.
When we first met, it was love at first sight, we were inseparable.
We were.
Yet how has it come to this point? We barely talk to each other. It was as if we were strangers to each other.
I don't know.
Do you remember when our first child, Linda, was born? It was the largest smile I have seen you do. It was a beautiful moment, life was like a fantasy.
It was.
Do you remember our wedding day? All of our friends and families, together enjoying each other's company. It was like our own families had merged. It was beautiful.
It was.
Do you remember when Linda and Andy had their first camping trip? You and I were too busy arguing and fixing the tent that by the time night came, we had only finished one. Yet it brought us all to sleep together. It was beautiful.
It was.
We had so much time together, almost 50 years already. Nothing bad ever happened between us. There was never an argument, never once did we raise our hand against one another, not once did we disagree. Yet after our third child had left for his own future, everything slowly changed.
It did.
How much time had passed, doing nothing but staring and glancing at each other? That spark that had ignited the flames, the very flames that birthed our family. Has it reached its end? Has it finally withered into ash? How much time has been wasted doing nothing? All 50 years of our time together, was it for nothing?
…
How much time have we wasted, silently?
Too much.
Had one of us spoken? Had I spoken? Would this have been different?
…
Oh, how I wish we could go back in time. How I wish we could spend that time. Oh, how I wish we could have it back, even for a single moment.