Soul Mate

A stranger sat at her table claiming to be her soul mate. Obviously she ignored him. It

was a beautiful day on the banks of the canal and nobody was going to spoil her

tranquillity.

She took her normal route and was so thankful that Spring had arrived.

She hated the winter, where everything was so cold and barren. During that time of the

year, all of the trees and bushes were bare. The water in the canal was icy cold and for

a few years in a row, it had at some places, frozen solid. The bustle of people stopped

in the Winter. She didn't really mind that part. It meant she had the water mainly to

herself.

The geese all flew away in these months but she knew that they would be back again

soon. Swimming was not so easy in the winter so she spent most of her time on the

banks of the canal.

When the ground froze over, it was very slippery. She had to watch her step. Darkness

came early in the colder months but now she could feel a change in the air. It was

subtle but it was there. With it would come warmer days and eventually the sunshine.

The picnic tables which were by the side of the canal were always full in the Summer

with bustle and people dropping food. The geese, ducks and other birds would fight

over the crumbs.

So there he was, just staring at her, this male who she had to admit was perfect. Clean,

well maintained with no signs of damage. (A perfect specimen in her eyes.)

He made no sound, just looked at her. Turning her head, the light breeze caught her

attention. She could feel it ushering a change of the seasons.

Maybe he could feel it too? Could this be why he was following her, announcing his

amorous intentions with his actions?

A very bold move indeed if that was his plan. In order to escape his unwanted

advances, she dived into the water. When she came up for air, she saw him standing

there on the other side of the canal bank just staring at her.

To her at this point, he was becoming a nuisance and invading her space and sense of

peace. Swimming away, she hoped that she had seen the last of him.

It was not until the afternoon that she saw him again. His strong legs in the water

caught her eye. The beauty of his form was undeniable but still she disregarded him,

choosing to watch the canal barges float by. Their movement caused ripples that were

felt all the way along the water.

Its huge form churns the cool still water leaving nothing but a muddy trail behind it.

Eventually the water would be still and clear again.

As it passed, she saw people taking pictures and waving their arms about. She took no

notice of it, as she had become so used to this frequent event on the canal.

Gliding along, her thoughts returned to him, the male who was obviously interested in

her. He can postulate all he likes she thinks to herself, but her mind had been made up

a long time ago. After the death of her partner, it was only her infants that kept her

going otherwise she would have died from a broken heart. She had no interest in any

form of relationship.

Yet something was stirring all around her and she was not immune from its effects.

Days went by and she spent her time in the water. It was her safe space away from the

noise and chaos of everyday life. The rhythm of the canal shrouded her in its soft

predictability. She watched the mallards all pair up and swim closer to each other.

She had to admit she did feel a sense of yearning but she shrugged it off. It had been

many moons since she lost her mate and protector. Could she be in a partnership

again? This thought nagged her but she shook her head and forgot about it soon

enough.

The canal had been her place for so many years. Her children had all grown up,

enjoying the water and obtaining their water wings here. They had taken to swimming

up and down the canal with such ease. She helped them navigate the various large

floating objects, people on floating platforms, fisherman and everyone else who came

to enjoy and use the canal.

Regardless of them being on it or in it, she always kept her children close to her. Now

they had all flown the nest and it was just her left here. But that is the Nature of life

she thought to herself.

She now loved nothing more than feeling the warm sun on her back and the gentle ebb

of the water on her legs. It was a comfort to her.

A flash of blue brings her back to the here and now. A small kingfisher is perched on a

barren branch above her. She watches, remaining still in the water and then suddenly,

there is a flash in the water and then up into the air. The kingfisher flies away with a

small silver fish in its beak.

The canal provides for so many animals here. It is a lifeline away from human hubris.

Above her, a whole flock of gulls are screeching loudly. She sees that from the

pathway, someone is feeding the ducks. They are being dive bombed by the voracious

gulls. Some of them have settled on the water but they move as she swims past them.

She is unaffected and uninterested in the drama beside her. She is not here to be fed.

She needs to be in the water. Freedom and the calmness it provides for her is all she

wants right now.

The male is on the other side of the canal watching her from the muddy bank as she

glides past. He sees how beautiful she is. Aware of his tenuous position with her,

caution is required. If he wants to woo her, it will need to be done properly. The right

way.

Swimming along, she sees that Spring is working its magic on everything living thing.

The trees are beginning to produce small green buds. The coots and moorhens are

calling out to each other. Their mating cries echo in the afternoon air.

They swim past making sure to avoid her at all cost. In the water she must seem like a

giant. She has no quarrel with them and is happy to swim past.

It was by the picnic tables that morning, then the male stood at a distance proclaiming

his love for her. She turns to go back into the water but stops. Confused by her

feelings, she finds herself moving towards him.

He, startled by this, quickly gathers his courage and moves close to her. They come

together in a beautiful way. Innocent and tender in their touch.

She enters the water and he immediately follows. Gently he splashes her with water,

circling her with his head dipping and rising again. The cold water tingles on her

body. Something unexplainable is stirring within her. This intimate dance is Nature's

gift to her. The dipping and bobbing of their bodies is hypnotic to her, almost

intoxicating.

His flirtatious behaviour seems to be indulging her new found emotions for him. Even

when he blows bubbles in the water, she circles around him seductively. There is a

synchronicity to their movements now.

Two beautiful forms glide in the dark cold waters of the canal. She turns in the water,

splashing gently and he copies her move for move.

Their bodies are locked in a watery embrace. Diving below the water, she reappears

and he swims over to be by her side....

From the other side of the canal, a woman stops on the path to watch two swans

moving together in a beautiful courtship dance on the water.