Conversations Seldom Overheard
Arthur Danin Adler

Rain

Overheard on a beach in Mira Flores, Peru

I waited until it was dark, totally dark, no moon. Then I came to you, here.

This is a surprise, you here, lying next to me.

The surprise is... I can't see you.

Shhhh.

I can only hear you, and feel you.

Shhhh.

And I can smell you.

It's hot. Your skin is hot. You're wet.

You're skin's not hot. You're cool.

How do you know that? You're not pressed against me.

No I'm not.

Why?

Shhhh.

Are you naked?

Can't you tell? Yes, I am. Are you?

Yes. For a long time I expected this to happen, I wanted it to happen, like a dream. But it faded, and other dreams came.

How could that happen?

You didn't come.

Now I'm here, like a dream, and it isn't fading.

What are you talking about? I don't remember you anymore. I don't remember what you look like. I can't see you here, now. I don't want to see you. I don't want you to see me, here, now.The time is gone.

Let me remind you.

How will you do that? Will you breathe in my ear, will you bite my lip, will you touch me in all the secret...?

All of that. We'll remember together and your skin will become hot and wet too.

You will be touching what you cannot see in the dark.

I will be touching your memory.

Shhhh. The time is gone. It's raining. It's almost dawn.

Now you're wet. Soon to be hot, soon to be seen.

Are you still here? Good. Just wet, not hot, not seen. The time is gone.

And now I'm gone.

Whoever you are.