‘Vulnerable’….

He led her by her hand…gently…she followed without knowing where they were heading…he looked so serious, she dare not laugh…this memory acquired the lovely caramel sepia tones that time allows…
She had worn her long rust skirt with a green blouse…and now as they walked, the air was filled with the clinking of blue bangles and the rustling of the leaves as her skirt swept over them…had this been a movie, she had the perfect piece of music for this moment…
She could not believe how she’d let someone she had met a day ago, lead her into what seemed like the woods…but then with some people you just know…you just kinda believe…for no particular reason…
She carried her bag along with her…heavy with her books…her feet unsteady…her face turned upward to the intricate web that the branches seemed to form over them…the chill in the afternoon air didn’t bother her…the warmth from his hand made her feel toasty…and there was a glow all around…the light bounced off leaves, livening up even the dark corners with a deep rich tone…
And then he stopped…slowly removed his shoes and lay his bag down…she followed obediently…all along looking at the expression on his face…focused and far away…he watched her…she questioned him with big eyes…he then put his hand on her eyes, shutting them…he held both her hands tightly and led her forward…she smiled at how much and how easily she could trust…her feet experiencing everything…the crispy leaves, crumbling to her touch…the cool earth…all so soft and gentle to her…and then she felt herself step into water…slowly he led her forward till the water reached her ankles… and then he stopped…
Turned her to face him and touched her eyes…she slowly opened her world to his…he had stepped back to let her look around…they were in a little clearing in the woods…with a little pool of water at her feet and as she looked up, she saw the shaft of light shine down perfectly on her…there were trees all around…in shades of green and brown…the light danced on the water’s surface and mingled with the ripples her restless feet were creating…she turned her attention to the banyan tree…the focus of his space…the many roots falling like beckoning arms…and she looked at him with delight…he came forward and motioned her to sit near the tree and she did…the scent of moss and crisp leaves hanging heavily upon them…
He pulled out his camera and captured the moment for eternity…she never had to see the picture to know how it looked…dark…only greens…and the image of her vulnerability to this newfound wonder… the tree with the pool of water at its feet remained the focus for her…and him standing behind her…and this feeling that they shared a world where no one could ever reach them…

They’d completed their assignment with more than enough time to spare…

First day at film school…first assignment in photography…task – find a partner and spend a day outdoors in silence and capturing the essence of the experience in a photograph…
When we had first heard of it, there had been a mad rush to grab onto the few people you knew…but she’d stood in the corner and looked about slowly…and was immediately taken in by his image…sitting at the back of class…busy sketching on the back of his book…and she crept closer…he looked up and smiled at her…a smile that meant he knew why she was smiling back…and they had teamed up…and she kept looking at the tiger he was sketching…mesmerized at how she’d found her peace in him, in a class full of crazy noisy disruptive people…

‘Vulnerable’ is what he named his photograph…Their photographs had many flaws and they were pointed out and absorbed…but that memory remains flawless…enhanced and touched up with every remembrance…music added…colours corrected…a title added…it would always remain him and her, caught in a moment when no one can touch them…and in many ways the equation between them remains the same…

(Y…for you my dear friend…for all those worlds you lead me into…for all the light you direct my way…for freeing me by capturing my essence with your understanding…see you soon…)