I lay in my bed, unable to sleep that night; my consciousness berating me incessantly; guilt making it impossible to find a comfortable position. Tossing and turning, I watched the shadows play out the deviant behavior exhibited before the world went dark. As the song of the bluebird penetrated the cold morning, I arose, lambasted by restlessness and shame. I hobbled to the door, grabbing my towel on the way, and turned the knob.
"Good morning." The soft serenade of the greeting rejuvenated my being far more than my guilt-ridden night.
I looked up to view the siren; her song dramatically eclipsed by her beauty. She stood with her back toward me, gazing out at the lake, bathed in the muted light of dawn. Her vacant back fascinated my naive mind. Gaping at her repetitive neglect for suitable clothing, I marveled at her aesthetic audacity to solely don floral-print skivvies. Such beauty captivated me, confining my thoughts to the cell of impropriety.
"Wanna cup?" she offered, turning slightly to make visible the white mug in hand.
My jaw fell, as I glimpsed a tiny, chestnut region of her modest breast, distinct from her olive complexion. The sight stirred me as Danielle resumed her former position staring into the reflective lake, concealing the appreciable areola.
"Wait!" I shouted in hopes that her response would reveal the intimate, but Danielle refused to respond.
I stepped toward her, longing for another frame of exhibition. The inappropriate nature of simply asking blatantly disregarded my upbringing; though, the brash request had been implemented on me. I felt powerless, left clinging to a memory of an exotic image. My feet refused to provide a more appropriate angle to view the pornographic. My mind flickered upon the possibility of accepting the coffee offered thirty seconds ago.
"Yeah, I'll take a cup." I called with the volume needed in a crowded Starbucks.
"The kettle's on." Danielle turned her head and smiled slyly.
Dumbfounded by her answer, I dropped the towel, abandoning my design to shower and skipped to the range. The French press, though alluring, ceased to be a viable option due to my salacious appetites. Though I didn't much care for hot chocolate, I pulled the full canister out of the cupboard. In less than half a minute, I stood alongside Danielle, finding her arm across her breasts obscuring the indecent she had so willingly neglected to cover a minute ago. Failing in my object, I sipped the unfulfilling brew, conceding defeat.
"I'm sorry about yesterday," Danielle confessed softly, her eyes not turning from the lake.
"Yeah," I agreed guiltily.
Silence followed as I forced myself to shift my attention on the gorgeous lake.
"I enjoy this place because I can be myself," she admitted. "I'm free here. And I'm sorry if I took that freedom away from you."
Her sentiments resonated within me. I loved the lake and its surrounding mountains, not just because of their stunning beauty, but because of the authenticity I felt here. Initially, I allowed Danielle to view my genitals for no other reason than my desires. It had been my decision to pull down the swim briefs, not once, but twice. Those actions reflected who I truly am.
"I hope you can still be yourself around me Sam," Danielle expressed, her gaze turning from the lake to me.
I hesitated to answer. The experiences of yesterday had left such an indelible impression on my conscience that I no longer could define myself. The characteristics of virtue and stalwartness were often attributed to me, not only by teachers and parents, but by my peers also. To describe the abhorrent events of my public masturbation as distressing would be to describe the deluge of Noah as a shower.