In the early morning rays her silky smooth hand glides across an ocean blue cotton sheet in search of its calloused counterpart. It finds only a bunched up blanket and a cold pillow. In desperation she extends her hand out further as her loneliness is conveyed to her sleeping mind. Her fingers stretch, longing for the warmth of skin to caress and the hardness of muscle to clutch. Her eyes flutter open as her hand continues its exploration the bed, searching for the body she wishes was there. Tears come to her eyes in part from the brightness of the sunlight, but mostly from the sharp pain of loneliness.
In the moment loneliness and doubt crept into her heart, warm rough fingers trailed up along her side and around her shoulder. They slowed upon reaching the soft tender flesh of her porcelain neck, coming to a stop just under her chin. She could feel him guiding her, beckoning her to trust him and as she turned her head, she felt his warm firm lips kiss her cheek. Once, twice, and then finally on the third kiss their lips pressed together. She wrapped one arm around his neck and the other around his shoulders and drew him in until she could feel the weight of his body pressing down on hers. Their lips parted and he whispered into her ear, the whiskers of his beard tickling her cheek.
Mile 29 