Once Upon a Blue Moon by Elaine Hayes

Happiness.

So unattainable.

Gazing up at the soft velvety sky, he reached up and brushed the air with his fingertips, feeling as if he could almost stretch further and cup his hand over one of the shining diamonds called stars. Instead the wind drifted lazily, slowly, over his arm, raising the little hairs in the slight summer chill. He smiled for no reason at all.

This slight moment of peace and silence, this was his version of happiness.

He turned and began walking home, hitching his brown leather jacket farther up his arms from where it had started to slip down. The wind, as if following him, ruffled his blonde hair and whistled in his ear. The soft sound slightly comforted him as he continued on his way, stepping over a huge crack in the sidewalk.

As he was walking beneath a large, leafy tree, a red Corsica sped down the road, the bass beat of a hip-hop song pounding the pavement. He gazed back at it as it drove out of his range of vision.

He suddenly realized he was tired of walking and sat down on the side of the curb, lying back on the scruffy grass and tree roots. Staring up at the sky again, he took note of the fingernail-shaped crescent moon. For some reason, it was a different hue tonight, almost… blue?

A soft sound reached his ears. He moved his head to the side and watched a person walking alongside the road, crunching over leaves and twigs. Slowly the feet came into view: those familiar black shoes that had rested by the door so many nights. The long legs clad in dark denim. The black cotton shirt, with one button at the top always undone.

And then the face.

Those sparkling verdant jewels of eyes… that strong nose… those thick red lips…

He remembered them. Oh, did he remember them. The memories played in his head and made him chuckle softly to himself.

Just then the god saw him. He stopped in his tracks and stared in surprise as the man stood and headed over to him without a word.

They gazed at each other for a long, intent moment. Neither one of them spoke. Finally the man pulled the god closer to him, stretching his arms around the broad shoulders in the tightest embrace he could muster.

And his hug was returned. When they parted, they smiled softly to each other before their lips met in a soft kiss. Their first in so many years. Too many.

But they knew that now… now they would never let themselves separate again.

Still the moon shone its mysterious aquamarine light down, quietly filtering the sweet scene.

Happy Valentine’s Day.