Chapter 6: A Sacred Summer

VanessaRose

by VanessaRose

Story


Summer.
This is such a sacred word
For it is the first time in forever
That you really mean what you say
When you use it
Full of promises
It seems like the whole city is on the streets
Flip Flops and blowing skirts
The lads are playing basketball in the front yard
Topless
Looking like they’ve never done anything else
The streets are not made for this kind of weather
As they are melting into a thousand little lakes
Kids are writing their names or initials
Into the black puddles with a stick
It is a Wednesday evening, 9 PM
The people are sitting at the canal, drinking beer
The Gardi don’t mind this year, there are no laws down at the canal
At least for this sacred summer
As long as the people are peaceful
It’s a normal weekday but right now every day is a festival
But we all know that this summer
This sacred summer
These beautiful moments are fleeting as we are living them
You can hear someone laughing from every corner

Y
ou hear glasses clinking, cold drinks and voices filled with joy
The coast is just a few miles away
And a cool ocean breeze now and then
Reminds you that you are still on
The Emerald Isle and not in Spain
Chairs on the street, naked feet
And a heavy scent of sunscreen
It takes a while until the sun finally disappears for the night
The days are long, longer than you have ever seen before
You hear the beats coming from inside the clubs
You are dancing, your mouth is dry
The air is thick, filled with promises
That find their origin in sun-infused daydreams As the people are walking through the same old city,
The same old streets,
And they feel a new-found love for it
It makes them so happy
And, oh boy, they cannot wait for these summer nights
You need some fresh air
You are leaving the club to cool yourself down
But for the first time ever
It is even hotter outside than it is inside
Careless laughter
Coming from everywhere, somewhere, anywhere

T
hey know that tomorrow the sun
Will put a coat of golden shimmer
Over the facades of their dirty old town again,
Covering the urban decay
It seems like the summer is taking their worries away
Just for a moment
Just for a day
Your friends are waiting down at the canal

Written in Dublin, 2018

© VanessaRose 2023-11-25

Genres
Novels & Stories, Anthologies
Moods
Adventurous, Challenging, Hopeful, Inspiring, Reflective
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