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 having a party.”

The man nodded, “Yes, the morning seems to be the favorite time of day for birds. Me, too.”

“And me, too,” said the woman as she scooted closer to the man so that their legs and shoulders were touching. She then held out her right hand.

The man then fit his left hand into her hand then their forearms dropped so that their clutched hands rested on their legs. Looking into each other’s eyes and smiling they then turned their attention to the lake before them. Holding hands, they sat in silence for a very long time simply watching the lake and all the vibrant life of nature upon it.

For almost two years the man and the woman came separately to the park to sit together on that same bench every day and to hold hands as they communed with nature. Aside from greetings and good-byes there was very little conversation. They actually knew very little about each other.

They had never kissed and they had hugged only a handful of times. Their entire relationship consisted of holding hands in silence. Through their hands their souls came together as love and joy poured freely between them.

After a couple of hours of communion sitting in silence holding hands, the woman let go of the man’s hand. Turning to him, she smiled, “Well, it’s time for me to go. I’ve got a very busy afternoon ahead of me. As always, thanks.”

They stood simultaneously. Turning to the woman, the man spoke, “And thanks to you. I hope your day is filled with joy.”

“You, too. Bye.”

“Bye.”

The woman turned and walked off on the path in the opposite direction towards the other parking lot on the east side of the lake. Following her with his eyes, the man suddenly wondered what kind of car she drove. He had never seen it.

As the woman disappeared from view the man sat back down on the park bench. He felt so good, so full of joy and love. So happy.

But then he started to think about his life. He had a busy afternoon ahead of him, too. So after just a few minutes he stood up and got back on the path leading to the parking lot on the west side of the lake.

When he got to his car he suddenly realized that the woman had never seen his car. She had no idea what kind of car he drove. He chuckled at the thought then got into his car and drove home.

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