The sleeping
part didn’t even turn out to be the most awkward thing about the night it was
the getting ready for bed part that took the cake.
After
my swim in the less than clean water of the docks I was in need of a shower,
but since water was a precious commodity I resigned to wiping myself down with
baby wipes under the glow of a propped up LED torch. My hair was another issue.
It looked great, salty beach hair really suited me. It fell down in stiff waves
around my shoulders, but beauty did nothing for the smell. I doused it in leave
in conditioner and was surprised at the pleasant change in odour.
As I pulled
out some of my face moisturizer I paused. Was I really doing this? When did looking
good for a guy I had just met become my top priority? I put the moisturizer
back on the shelf and closed the vanity mirror. My reflection looked ghostly. The
torch was angled too close to my face and gave it a gaunt quality that
unsettled me. I leaned closer and suddenly as a quick flash I saw myself
standing outside. The flutter of leaves, the shade of a tree, and then it was
gone. My towel wrack stared plaintively back at me.