Worth The Wait

(For Stefan and Rachael)

It was in the flat light of predawn,

On an early July morning,

That Father Time woke him gently.

Come, said Father Time. I have something

I want you to see.

And so he rubbed his eyes and pulled

himself to his feet, his head

Still pounding from nights before.

The walk to the beach was not so short,

That he didn’t have time

To wonder at the strangeness of it all.

But the sun was already at work, painting

The sky in reds and pinks and the crisp

Morning air hinted of anticipation.

So he pulled his flat brimmed hat lower

And resolved in his head to follow Him blind.

What he noticed first was the salty air

And the sounds of the bay lapping

Up on the rocky beach. It wasn’t until

Father Time pointed her out

that he saw they were no longer alone.

What he noticed next was how his heart

Now beat louder than his head

And the chill that brushed along his neck.

From the waterline she turned back

Toward them both and when she saw him

Her eyes twinkled and she smiled with joy.

It was as if he knew her, had always

Known her. He instantly felt drawn in

And moved as if to run toward her

And pull her from her feet and into his arms

And then to never let her go.

But in that moment he could not move

Not yet, said Father Time.

And then He was gone.

And when he turned back toward the water

His heart sunk to see that so was she.

He remained as the sun climbed

Into the sky, and the salty bay lapped

on the rocks. Never before had he felt so alone.

Years passed him by and he traveled

Far - across oceans and over top mountains

Always in search for what he had seen,

What he had felt, that early morn.

Though he found many friends and shared

Many sunrises, and even a few beaches,

He never forgot her smile, or the twinkle

In her eyes, or how they had made him feel.

And on several occasions, on early

July mornings, he would return

To that same rocky beach by the bay,

Where he would wait for hours to bargain

With Father Time, longing to see her

For at least one moment more - though

To no surprise he never found answers

And the faces he searched were never as lovely.

But then one early July morning,

Years beyond his hope for ever seeing her

Again, he was once more gently awakened.

It’s time now, said Father Time.

But thinking it a dream, he sighed

and rolled over and again closed his eyes.

It‘s time now, again said Father Time.

We can’t be late or you may miss her yet.

When he laid there still, Father Time

Reached down and pulled him up into his arms.

And like he was his own son,

The Father carried him down

To the rocky beach and the bay.

His eyes were still closed when they arrived

But he could smell the salt and again hear

the water splashing onto the rocks.

Then he heard something more

And so he opened his eyes and looked.

There she was, dressed in a white summer dress,

Light hair resting on her shoulders, the same smile

And the same twinkle in her eyes.

Tears filled his eyes and his knees felt weak.

The moment he had dreamt of for years

Was finally here and it took away his breath.

And then he saw what he had first heard,

Two boys at her side laughing

And cheering as they took turns skipping rocks

Into the sea. They looked as familiar to him

As she had looked so many years before.

It is time, again said Father Time.

You should go to them now,

They are expecting you.

He turned and looked at Father Time.

Why did I have to wait for her

For so long, he asked Him plainly.

Father Time did not blink but replied,

Perhaps it was not you who had to wait for her

But her who had to wait for you, my son.

Either way don’t wait another moment,

Go to them and together you will be complete.

And then Father Time was gone once again.

Fearful that they too would be gone

He quickly turned back toward the waterline.

To his amazement the three of them stood

There, looking up at him with smiles, the same smile on three different faces really,

And then the youngest boy waived to him.

Without hesitation he ran to meet them.

When he got to them she reached out

And took his hand. There you are, she said

To him with a knowing look.

In that moment he got the feeling

That perhaps they had already shared

A lifetime together, and that he had merely

Been away for a few moments

And that he had just caught up to them all.

Yeah sorry that took so long, He said.

She laughed and placed his hand

On her belly. You’re right on time, she said.

Now he laughed as well and then looked down

At the boys. Can I skip rocks with you guys,

He asked them. Sure daddy, said one.

Here use this one, said the other. And

In that moment he knew that they were complete.