Hope you enjoy.
#3. Age 17, September 5th, 2005: How I fell in love with June.
June’s Rock. It was the last time I was to see June before I left to travel across Canada, so we decided to spend as much time as we had left together. We had taken the family paddle-boat without permission across the lake (a paddle boat is basically a two person bicycle that can tread water) to our “secret spot”, a slightly slanted bed of rock facing the most beautiful view in all of the Kawartha’s. The rustling leaves on the trees were turning into an intense array of reds oranges and yellows, the furry little animals were scurrying to collect refuge for the winter, water-skiers being pulled by motorboats were zooming across the water. The sound of people conversing, laughing, dancing on their decks and patios could be heard from miles away as the lake acted as nature’s natural microphone. June and I could hear basically everything: barbecues, parties, family reunions, fireworks. It also happened to be my birthday. It was paradise.
So, this unnamed island was the only undeveloped property in amongst our township, due to the fact that it was a kilometre long island in the middle of the lake we were on. On this island, is our “secret spot”, as only June and I knew about it. When we finally arrived, the sun was about to set in the distance, just as I had planned. I set up the rock face “picnic style”: chips, ginger ale, even going as far as making a makeshift bed with an old foam mattress and wool blankets. Unfortunately though, I had forgotten the pillows from home, but we didn’t care, we just used each other as pillows, it was cute to say the least. We laid on the bed together, munching chips while taking in as much nature as we could. The air around us felt cold and edgy, but being together made it seem warm and comforting. The smell of June’s auburn hair drove me mad. As it started to get colder, she cuddled up to me; our stiff wool blanket scratched us every time we squirmed about the foam mattress. The rock’s surface beneath us felt coarse even underneath the mattress, the smell of pine needles and burnt cedar filled our nostrils. I could feel her heart beating inside of her chest. Suspense filled our thoughts. Then suddenly, the sun rested over the valley. The hill we were sitting on was now filled with the radiance of the sun’s rays. The warmer air instantly made us feel more relaxed. She rolled on top of me. June looked into my eyes with a glow about her; the sun setting beyond the island eclipsed her head like an angel’s halo. It was one of the most stunning things either of us had ever seen, but we both knew it wasn’t the sunset in the distance. She just stared into my eyes and smiled. I had never wanted something so badly in my entire life.
(RE-EDIT) The day after I decided to nickname the rock that we spent on together “June’s Rock”, for obvious reasons. Since that day, as a couple we try to come out to our little spot in the Kawartha’s at least once every summer.