Robert and Julia. A road to the hill

Every time they have been coming to this place, they have had a feeling that something wonderful and unusual is about to happen. And reality never deceived their expectations. Here, on the island, they rode water scooters for the first time, when after three laps of the catch-up game, Julia got off her bright yellow jet and, sitting down on the wet blue seat behind Robert, firmly grasped his life jacket with both hands and whispered in his ear: - I don’t want to catch up, I want to be around! That day they were rushing around the ocean for a long time, shouting over noise of the engine and whistle of the wind, experiencing the joyful delight of crazy speed and salty splashes on their cheeks.

The first trip to the mountains was another amazing adventure. At a height of about a mile, they suddenly turned out to be completely alone and sat on hot stones, listening to the chatter of cicadas and peering into a misty haze over the ocean, far beyond the tops of ancient mountains. They were conquered by the silence of eternity. Perhaps it was then that they seriously began to understand what it means to be silent together. Got climbed to the top of an extinct volcano, they found themselves above the clouds. Julia then told him: - We wanted the whole world to be at our feet. Looks like it happened earlier than we thought!
At that time, they were not yet thirty, the actor's careers of both of them were developing quite well, and they sincerely rejoiced at each day that was spent together. Robert once remarked that he didn’t know exactly what was more pleasant - when they are united or when work separates them, and the days pass waiting for a meeting. Julia laughed at him and said that she would rather never act with him in one motion picture, so as not to upset this balance.

This place was the most suitable for their joint rest; having traveled around the world, they repeatedly recognized this and gladly returned here again and again, gradually forgetting about other lovely places. Here, in some surprising way, they became happy, and with each new trip the number of bright memories increased, replenishing the already huge energy supply of this small island.

They learned to skillfully mix the joy of small discoveries with the pleasure of visiting already familiar and beloved corners. They had their own rituals and traditions: to greet and say goodbye to the ocean, smile to the morning sun, tell news to flowers and a whole lot of all sorts of glorious things.
The place where they have been staying during the last years was the very same hotel where they spent the night for the first time on the island. Having tried different hotels - and expensive ones, and those that are cheaper - they realized how lucky they were from the very beginning, and they stopped looking.

And indeed, the place was beautiful - the shortish white and blue houses of the hotel were located on the top of a hill towering over the ocean; from the windows there was a stunning view of the endless water expanse. It was possible to get to the hotel either from the side of a small town clinged to a small bay, by climbing a steep and eternally soiled by pigeons staircase, or along a winding road planted with low trees and curling around a hill like a scarf around a neck.

Without saying a word, they always chose the second option - the ocean was well visible from this road, and they liked to watch how its color was changing during the climb: the emerald green of the coastal shallow waters gradually disappeared behind the cliffs, and the picturesque blue of real depths solemnly arised before the eyes.
A way along this road was not too long, but rather tiresome, considering the height of the hill. There was a time when they both were overcoming this climb easily, joking and humming their favorite songs along the way.

About a year before her sixtieth birthday Julia for the first time asked Robert not to walk so fast and make small stops on the rise. On offers to take a taxi which would cost only a couple of coins, Julia used to answer with an unchanged refusal and one day she unexpectedly seriously said to him that no matter what, they must overcome this climb themselves and necessarily together. Robert jokingly asked then if he could at least occasionally do it alone. Julia looked at him carefully and asked: - Do you really want it?
Robert smiled and shrugged: - You know, the last thing I want is to be somewhere without you!
Julia coquettishly straightened her hat and wiggled her hips and shoulders, portraying victory.

They got used to overcome difficulties together: no matter what happens, they firmly knew that each has not just a loved one, but a true friend to rely on. Difficulties, must be said, there were a lot. Basically, they concerned their personal life; the vicissitudes of the actor's fate they tolerated quite easily, knowing well what profession had chosen. It doesn't mean that they did not aspire to leading parts and famous directors and were ready to play anything - each believed that even a small episode can be turned into a masterpiece, and any small role can be given volume and depth. It had helped them out during the difficult months of inactivity when the phones were silent and the journalists weren't crowding at their door.

However, they almost never gave the press any reasons for the brouhaha. Their happiness was quiet and peaceful, without hysterics and loud betrayals. The only thing that burden Robert was lack of children. In their youth, both were not in a hurry to acquire offspring, and later when they started to think about it seriously, it turned out that it was too late. Julia calmly endured this news and even comforted Robert, bringing the pleasures of living together as an argument and listing the names of other childless actors.
Robert suspected that in fact she was experiencing no less than him, however, no matter how hard he tried, he could not tell her anything sensible in response when the conversation was concerning this topic.

So they lived, trying not to show each other's tears off and sharing smiles happily.

Having barely celebrated the next round anniversary - both were already far over eighty - they flew off to the island again to spend two weeks without the hustle and bustle of London. Everything was as usual: the salty air of the ocean, ever-flowering trees and fabulous sunsets seemed to be just waiting for them to caress the senses and delight the eyes.

On that day, they had been walking down the coast a lot over a long and beautiful promenade which was running along the foot of the hill from one small beach to another. Having enjoyed familiar sights as if it were the company of old friends, and having admired enough of the reflection of the rays of the low sun in green water, they slowly rose back to the hotel.
The walk was quite tiresome, and Julia struggled to overcome the climb. Robert saw that it was not easy for her, so he tried to make his already little senile steps even shorter - so that she could walk alongside. Despite the evening coolness, they both felt hot from exhausting walking.

Suddenly Julia stopped. Robert looked at her questioningly.
- Help me sit down, - she said. Robert took her by the arm and seated her slowly onto quite a wide stone ledge, separating the pedestrian part of the road from the overhanging cliff. Julia leaned her back against the warm stones and sighed contentedly. Robert stood in front of her, leaning forward slightly, and carefully looked into her deep and blue eyes.
- Where are my sunglasses? - Julia asked. Robert opened her handbag and took out beautiful dark glasses. Frames in retro style have always attracted Julia; they bought this model last year while on transit stop at Barcelona Airport, although there was very little time left till their next flight.

Julia slowly put her sunglasses on. Robert helped her to set them so she looked good.
Julia turned to the ocean and looked at the endless blue distance, on which the gold of sunset was already being spilled.
- How beautiful! - she said in her quiet and amazingly deep voice. Robert still was standing there, slightly bending over her. The wind almost died down, invisible cicadas began to sing their iridescent evening songs, and the first large stars lit up in the darkening sky.

After a while, Julia sighed again, turned to Robert, and rather whispered than said: - Go.
Robert stood motionless. Some unpleasant cold appeared in his stomach. Half of Julia’s face was brightly lit by the rays of a warm, bright-yellow setting sun, the other was already touched by the twilight shadows. Julia smiled to him. He didn't even immediately hear what she said.
- Go! - somehow in a special way, she repeated almost tenderly.

Such happened in their couple history for the first time. Robert could not take his eyes off Julia. He tried in vain to understand what was going on. Something inside suddenly said to him - you must go!

Something similar had already happened in his life when the inexplicable was rolling on him like a huge wave, and he almost unconsciously committed acts as if by someone's will, not realizing what he was doing and what was happening to him. Mostly, this happened in the moments when it was necessary to take some important decision affecting his career or their future fate. Robert always listened to his own feelings, he already knew this sense and usually did not oppose him, suspecting that at such moments he was driven by what people usually call destiny.

And so now, almost not feeling his body, he turned slowly and reluctantly went forward - to such close, but almost inaccessible top of the hill. He did not quite understand what was going on, he just knew that it was necessary, that's all.

Steps were given to him with difficulty, heart was pounding in his chest, but an unknown force still made him go ahead.
After walking a little over two hundred feet, Robert suddenly felt some kind of animal horror. Cold sweat pours out his body from head to toe. He turned and moved backwards as fast as he could. He wanted to run, but his tired legs did not obey him well, and besides, it was hard to move down the slope, so instead of running, he could only make small and ridiculous fussy old man's steps.

Totally out of breath he returned to the bend of the road, where he left his Julia. He felt a sense of relief - she was still sitting peacefully on the side of the road, leaning her back against a stone wall.
However, approaching, Robert realized that something had happened: the hands of Julia, that had previously held a beautiful white handbag, now were resting limply on her knees; open handbag laid near. Robert came even closer and carefully looked at Julia - her eyes were still hidden behind the sunglasses, and there was the same slight smile on her lips that he left her with, but this smile has now acquired some new quality. Robert for a moment had a strange feeling that it was no longer intended for him.

He slowly sank down onto the stone ledge beside Julia. His heart was still pounding, sweat was running down his temples.
He looked at his friend lady again, a sad sigh escaped from his chest.
It happened.
The sun was still caressing Julia’s wrinkled face with its rays. She was beautiful and looked restful.
Birds sang, a soothing sound of the surf came from the beaches below, and the sweet aroma of ever-flowering trees spread in the evening air.
It happened.

Robert was sitting next to Julia, just like her, leaned with his back against the sharp and warm stones.
With dim and blearing eyes, he was looking at the haze that was crawling onto the just a while ago harsh border between the ocean and the sky, and he couldn't move.
Only whispered almost soundlessly with his parched lips: - Julia, my love! My dear love!

2017