Michael's Point Of View ~

So happy that yesterday has gone and knowing what today is going to be about. It's a day of fun for the both of us. As yesterday, Anika went back to the nursing home and spent the entire day visiting her grandmother while I was working . . all day. With hours and hours of me just looking at the clock, wishing the time would go by fast.

In the end, it did. 

I suppose. 

The polaroid photo put away, back in the drawer of the coffee table once the sound of my ringing phone made me do so. It was Anika calling. She told me she has just stepped away from her grandmother to call me. She told me all about how moving from the hospital to the nursing home had gone. And it went well, great news. As I was wondering myself. But her concerns are then expressed . . I say nothing. Listening to each and every word Anika says. 

I understand her concerns. 

She said she is worried that her grandmother won't remember her carers. It's a case of when . . not if. And then what? What will happen then? Anika said to me. I tried my best to be there with her in her time of decline. Without the opportunity to give her a hug or to place a gentle, hopefully comforting hand upon her. But having only my voice. So, I pray I used my words with all my power. 

Anika said she wishes to see me again. 

To spend the entire day with me. 

It was organised. Unfortunately, it couldn't happen yesterday causing us to wait as I had to work. But today . . I'm free. And I'm all hers. I wait patiently for Anika to arrive. I can't help it. I think about Odie. I hope he is okay. He is home alone this time . . I know, big step. Mother minded him yesterday while I was at work to make sure but when I got home, I was told great news. Mother told me that Odie was great. So happy, his tail wagging. Everything was positive. He was close to being back to his normal self again. It was then that gave me the confidence to make the decision to leave Odie home alone today. He'll be fine for a few hours. 

I see Anika suddenly. Oh man. 

She looks incredible. 

Her smile is seen all the way from where I'm standing. She walks over to me and my heart suddenly starts to pound by the vision of her. She gets closer and closer until she's standing in front of me. 

"Hi, Michael . . " 

Her arms around me. 

"Hello, Anika . . " 

My arms around her too. 

I am so excited for today. I feel we both are. I'm taking her fishing. It's something I have been doing not for longest time . . only starting around a year ago. It was my brothers that really got me into it. They would take me fishing each time one or all of my brothers would come to town for a visit. They too, like everyone else, moved away. Now it's only myself and mother still living here in Airlie. As for my father, he passed away a few years ago now. I do miss him. A great man. I love fishing. It's even an opportunity for you to go away for a while with no one else around. Just you and your mind. A chance for you to be alone. Especially in those times where it's all that is really needed to get your head cleared. I love it that way. 

"You ready? . . " 

I ask her with a smile. I see a flash of hesitation. I put my hands gently onto her shoulders, looking into her eyes. 

"You got this . . " 

"And I'm here to help you . . " 

I say with a chuckle. Anika chuckles also. I guess knowing that she'll need my help after all. I won't mind, not at all. The lake where we will be fishing is right behind us. As the bait shop is on our right . . we walk over. A skip in our step. Through the front door of the shop now, the bell that rings each time someone enters and leaves the store is heard. 

"Hello, sir . . madam . . " 

The man at the front counter says to us. A smile on his face as I walk up to him. 

"Hey mate. A fishing boat and two rods please . . " 

He gathers the rods, bait and everything else required together for us. Both our identification is needed and finally my signature. We are on our way to towards our fishing boat. The smell and sound of the water is all around us as we walk towards it, where our boat will be, waiting for us. There it is. Our boat. It's only small. Kinda like a dinghy . . hmm, little bit bigger than that. I place all of our stuff into it before I help Anika get in. She is so nervous, it's cute. But I'm going to look after her. Help her if she needs it. She's in. Sitting down on a ledge in the boat that is provided. I get into the boat myself. But I want to make sure before we leave. 

"Ready, Anika? . . " 

I ask with a smile. My fingers on the rope that keeps hold of our boat. It's looped and tied to this pole. I want to release it but I want to wait for Anika's response more. Because I'm ready . . but today is about Anika. To be there for her. A fun day, I hope she is ready. She looks at me dead in the eyes. Wow. I haven't seen that type of stare in so long. It's dark . . it's mischievous. To me, it tells me that she is ready for it. A challenge perhaps, but something she wishes to get to sooner rather than later. 

"Let's do it . . " 

She says. Her tone is confident, strong. I love that. Nervous she may be too, yes . . but always willing to give things a go. Another thing that hasn't changed about her. Anika sits still, in a quite certificated way. Her hands placed together and on her lap. I grab the oars, beginning to allow us and the boat to glide towards the very heart of this lake. As I row, I watch Anika. She is just looking around. A silent 'wow' escapes her lips as we travel further and further away from the land of Airlie. This place is beautiful, there is no doubt. The dark blue of the lake water, the shine it has as the sun beams down on it. I only discovered it once I began fishing so we never got to come here when she and I were dating. She is totally loving it. 

And before I know it. 

We are here. A good spot, right here in the heart. 

Anika and I are all alone. She is ready, I can tell. I give her a rod before taking a hold of my own. 

"Now, watch and learn . . " 

Anika says with a smirk. Oh man. She is hilarious. I can't help but chuckle from her words. I just sit back and watch her, literally. Wondering . . waiting more like it, until she will ask me for help that I know she needs. Anika looks at her fishing rode, at the lake itself before she looks at me. 

"Umm . . so, what am I doing? . . " 

Yep, there it is. She asks with a large smile, a smile that tells me she has been defeated. But, she is taking it very well. Both of us giggle. I tell her what to do. Where to position her hands and what to do once she feels a bite. I even demonstrate with Anika following step by step what I do. 

And now all we have to do . . is wait. 

Waiting, waiting for the fish. When I first did this with my brothers, this was the part that made me the most restless. I would look around me, stare into space at times. Moments when I would almost let go of my fishing rode, it would take so long that I would just . . forget. But not today. A tiny shriek is heard from Anika lips. I see her eyes are wide, her mouth open. She can't believe it. They didn't take long at all. I can't believe it either. I abandon my chance of getting a bite as I put my fishing rod back into the boat, laying it down as my attention is on helping Anika. 

"Okay, okay . . " 

I move over to her. 

"Wheel him in but not too quickly . . " 

I am now sitting right behind her, my arms on either side of her body as well as my legs. I put my hands gently onto the skin of her arms. These fingers of mine hovering over her hands. 

"I got one! I got one, Michael! . . " Her voice so gleeful. 

I talk gently, almost a whisper to ensure Anika doesn't panic and lose the fish. Both of us looking out towards the lake where the splash is seen from the fish. 

"Just wear him out first before you try to reel him in . . " 

She listens. A tiny 'okay' is heard from Anika. Her fingers not moving for a few seconds. 

Until. "Now Anika! Real him in! . . " 

I say with a slight raise in my voice. She does. Her face completely lights up once she sees the fish in front of her. It dangles on the bait still, on the hook. It's only a small fish. But one that I know she is so proud of. She did great. I am so happy for her. 

"Can I put the fish back into the lake? . . " 

I giggle, she is just too much of an animal lover. But I agree. Watching the fish, seeing as it disappears completely, diving deep down into the safety of the water. My hands have come down to her thighs now. Her skin exposed as she wears a dress. It's quiet . . as we are still alone. Anika looks at my hands, then slowly moves her head to look over her shoulder, back at me. Our lips once more hovered over one another and our eyes stare into each others. It's only one hand of mine this time as the other stays put. It's those fingers from that hand on her thigh that gently graze over her skin, going up and up. Higher and higher until I get to her panties. Taking a hold of them. The material very soft . . cotton. 

I pause. 

My eyes never leaving hers, nor does she. 

A loud rumble is heard, causing us both to look up. The sky displaying greys, dark blue and almost black across the sky suddenly. What the? . . I didn't know it was going to storm. The rain falls seconds later. 

"Oh shit! . . " I exclaim. 

I grab the oars, rowing us back to land. Anika puts her hands over her head in an attempt to keep dry, to keep the rain off her but it fails. Both of us now soaking wet. Fuck. Ugh. What a shame. But how can that be? I looked at my phone and it didn't say it was meant to rain . . to storm. Land ahoy! The boat comes to a complete stop, oars lay inside it. I do my best, my very best to tie and secure the boat with the rope. The rain . . it's much heavier now. The wind - much the same. Blowing here and there. Just everywhere. 

"Oh my god! . . " Anika shrieks. 

I'm holding her hand, we run together towards the bait shop. To get cover, to get out of this rain. We make it, inside the shop. Flashes of lightning followed by the crackle and pop of thunder. How to describe it . . it's just eerie. Yet another loud noise is then heard. I look out to see large, white ice balls falling from the sky, onto the ground. It's hail. Damn. I can not believe this. I feel a shiver all over my body as I look out, seeing all of this unfold. The wind howling, causing the leaves on tress to rustle loudly all around. Anika puts her arms around me. Shielding herself from it all. Another flash of lightning is heard coupled with a deafening crack of thunder. She hides her face in my chest. My arms wrapping around her. I just want to protect her . . as best as I can. The clouds still dark. This is just about the fiercest storm I have seen here in years. For an hour, the storm lashing everything as we are just helpless humans . . silent spectators to an awesome display of power by nature. 

Until. 

Finally, the rain slowing to only a drizzle. The wind dyeing down along with the halt of lightning, however distant thunder is still heard but the worst is now over. Anika and I emerge from the shop. But I wish to continue to be with Anika. The day still young, as our fishing trip was cut horribly short. 

____________________________

Anika and I walk into my building, on our way back to my apartment. I invited her to come over mine. A chance to still be spending time with her but indoors. Because as for the weather - bipolar. Our skin moistened. Hair - damp. Slightly slicked from the rain. I need to change my clothes and offering Anika anything that will fit her to make her more comfortable. We walk down the hall hand in hand to get to my apartment door, my keys at the ready. 

But wait. 

Why is my apartment door left ajar? 

I feel my heart sink. I walk in . . slowly. Anika following behind me. 

"Odie? . . " I call out. 

to be continued.