We are lost in paradise. This is our favorite place to be even if the buildings are different each time we return. There is something special about how the sun and sand in Mexico heal our wounds. We have been drifting apart lately. I cannot tell if he sees it but this is my last-ditch effort to save whatever is left of “us”. Here, caught between the jungle and the edge of the world, we only have each other. There is no family to nag us, no jobs to call at all hours, and no responsibilities for us to deal with before we deal with the distance between our hands and our hearts. Even on a resort with thousands, it is almost as if we are the only ones.
We drink by the ocean as our skin turns red because we forgot the suntan lotion. As the sun begins to melt into the water, he looks at me and asks, “Dinner time”? We wipe the granules of sand from our skin as if we are wiping away the pain in our hearts. Soon we are back in our room, where the air conditioner sends chills throughout my body. I am pondering over what dress to wear. I want the night to be perfect, he deserves it after all.
We have reservations at the Italian place, by the pool, in the fresh air, where they cook your dinner in front of you. We have been waiting for this the entire trip. Instead of margaritas and daiquiris, we order wine. The lights glisten on top of the pool water and the fresh breeze breathes new life into us.
As we walk back to our room that night, we hold hands and walk slowly with our steps in beat with the ocean waves. We reach our building and walk to the elevator but chose to let a family take it instead. We laugh about preferring the stairs anyway. As we climb, what feels like our castle, a man stops us as he is passing through the yellow painted maze. He is wearing white pants and a nice dress shirt. He is dressed beyond his age. I feel the anxiety of speaking to a stranger begin and smile as “Hello” falls from my mouth.
“I just wanted to tell you, you both look so in love, I hope to find that one day”.
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Melanie can be found on Instagram