Chapter 2: Beginnings

The first time I saw him, I was awkwardly perched on my brother’s sofa, having a conversation with my 3 year old nephew. I don’t recall the subject, and certainly, from the moment ‘he’ stepped into the room, I momentarily forget all line of thought there and then. People talk about time standing still. Hearts skipping a beat. Suddenly being acutely aware of one's own being. Well, this was one of those moments. Sort of.

I suppose it wasn’t as dramatic as one might picture such a moment. Or romantic. In fact, it was almost a little comical as we both simply said nothing- something that would later become our running theme. Instead, we sort of just self-consciously stared at each other, as my nephew continued philosophising about the world, completely unaware of the silent exchange taking place between these two individuals.

I don’t remember the first thought that entered my head, as I continued to observe this small, olive-skinned older man, with dark hair and the most striking eyes. The sort of eyes that smile all on their own. He was a complete stranger, that had just entered my brother’s living room, and yet, I felt like I had known him forever. I suppose I was wondering why.

I think he looked away first, at the ground, unsure of what to do or say. Suddenly, my brother came bounding in, to inform us that dinner was ready and waiting. Almost as an after-thought, on his way out, he suddenly realised we had not been introduced. ‘Oh yeah, Rick this is my little sister, Anka. Anka, Rick; Angela’s older brother’. So there it was. I had a name and an identity. He was my sister-in-law’s brother.

And so it begun.

The first time I thought he was undeniably handsome, was as I watched him hop over graves in a cemetery, as the whole family attended the funeral of his grandmother. It had rained that day, and his hair was wet. As was the ground. I remember the raindrops clinging to the blades of grass, and how they carelessly leapt into the air, as we walked through them.

The next time I would see him would be at the farm, where he works for his parents, among the olive trees. The farm was nestled in the Hunter valley, not too far from Sydney, and yet it felt a million miles away from everything.

As we drove towards the farm for the first time, driving towards him, I remember feeling a sort of strange sense of anticipation. It was night time, and I was staring out of the car window, looking up at the millions of stars above. The highway was not lit, and instead they seemed almost near enough to touch.

The next time I would be staring at the stars again, would be at the farm, with Him by my side. Together, watching them fall out of the sky. Shooting stars. Making silent wishes.

And in those moments, I silently began falling for him. Falling for the first time....