Looking out towards Rathlin Island on the shore of the Causeway Coast, Nuru stood watching the horizon melt behind a veil of shadow as the lunar eclipse moved towards its fullness. The night swelled with the mass of black water where it whispered soothingly to the sand a repeating lament of single syllables. A coldness of autumn and a mist beset the beach like the ghosts of forgotten souls, dogging footsteps and morning shades of parents at play with their children, of lovers at walk amid their own fantasies and of darting birds and stray dogs giving chase; the night absorbed the day completely and only memories walked the bay where Nuru stood watching and waiting standing still against the night.
‘An unusual place to gather,’ said a woman’s voice suddenly.
Nuru smiled to himself without turning. ‘An appropriate place considering, wouldn’t you agree?’
A momentary silence ensued as the woman came to stand by Nuru’s side. ‘Indeed,’ she replied pouting.
Nuru turned slowly. ‘Well, it was the best there was this time,’ he sighed. ‘I know you Dawn; I know you dislike such places.’
Dawn turned her unblinking eyes out at the water. ‘I’d rather say that was an understatement.’
‘I feel comfortable here,’ he smiled again.
‘You’re not going to start boring me to death now are you?’
Nuru laughed and shook his head. ‘It’s night time, I’m at my best. I like it here, the cliffs, the coast so much muted joy and the sea can keep a secret,’ he winked. ‘Last we met was on your terms now the terms are mine.’
Now Dawn smiled mischievously. ‘You always cast a shadow.’
‘It is my nature,’ retorted Nuru. ‘But would you have me any other way?’
‘Of course not,’ Dawn pulled tighter her long black coat. ‘Almost slipped there.’
Nuru glanced up at the sky; the shadow on the moon was almost complete. ‘I think you’re casting the shadow this time,’ he mentioned softly.
Dawn sighed. ‘I so much prefer the day time, these street lights are so ineffective, I don’t like the dark.’
‘It’s only human,’ Nuru remarked.
Dawn looked down and shrugged. ‘Last time you gave me a diamond ring, it was perfect, one of your best.’
Nuru nodded remembering. ‘I put some effort into it yes but sadly none this time, just … well just the night,’ he said absently.
Dawn raised her eyebrows beaming. ‘It never lasts long enough.’
Nuru slowly glanced around at the beach enjoying the softness of the night the after smell of candy still hung in the air. Gaudy appliances of distraction and amusement sat lifeless with swing sets hanging limp, stalls and bumper-cars wallowed in muted states of tiredness while tarpaulins and shutters muttered in the breeze.
‘I think it’s nearing that time again,’ mentioned Nuru as he looked out at the few lights dotted on the silhouette of the island where they seemed like fallen stars caught and held in distant windowpanes.
Dawn smiled broadly and loosened her coat. Nuru glanced up at the sky, the thinnest sliver of a crescent cut into the dark now. ‘Beautiful,’ he whispered.
Dawn shivered. ‘Delightful.’
‘Perhaps a little more,’ Nuru urged.
Dawn shivered again and took in a long easy breath as she undid another button. ‘I aim to please.’
Nuru closed his eyes as he turned his face to the sky. ‘You are always the light of my night.’
‘And you are always, always the night of my light,’ she replied with conviction and undid the last of her buttons.
In the sky, the lunar eclipse drifted away as the moon came out from behind the Earth’s shadow. Nuru sighed joyfully. ‘I missed you,’ he said looking at Dawn and she walked into his embrace.
‘As have I you, my love but I still don’t like it here,’ she teased.
The sun and the moon held each other on the shore of Ballycastle, overlooked by the Silver Cliffs and witnessed by the rolling waves. They walked along the beach, neither making a print on the sand but both walked hand in hand.
‘Next eclipse let’s do something special,’ said Dawn her skin shining.
Nuru nodded his skin now silver and pale. ‘The next is a solar eclipse, so it’s up to you where and when.’
Dawn beamed a huge smile. ‘You’re always my man in the moon.’