Old Roots

They were to meet behind the sprawling tree with the crazy buttress roots. It was dark and private there. She loved that place. Mysterious and ominous. He was anxious to meet her after their first coffee date. Dressed in his black shirt, he was sure he was looking sexy. Their meeting place suggested he might get lucky. He passed the groundsman fixing a fence, but there was no one else around.

She was already there when he ambled there, a bit worried he was being punked. But a smile spread over his face as he caught her sitting on one of the massive protruding roots. She looked like she belonged in a book, ethereal, dressed in red.

The old University campus was really old. Stone buildings which were dark and musty, colonial architecture with gargoyles on the roof. It looked even darker after a rain shower, but the lush green lining every avenue gave it a certain serenity. She was always drawn to this campus, but the tree was her absolute favourite. She spent a lot of time here, but to her it suggested romance.

She greeted him warmly and they sat on one of the widest roots. She spoke easily, all the while looking into his eyes. It was unnerving to most men, but he could not help but feel a certain thrill. She was beautiful and there was electricity between them. They spoke for a long time and she gently touched his arm once, then caressed his back. He felt more and more at ease. They nestled against the tree trunk and they were in an embrace. She looked in his eyes once more and their lips touched. He felt like he was floating. He wanted her to be only his. They were locked in their kiss for a long time. The leaves over head rustled softly and the old tree sighed. Finally she pulled away slowly and looked at him. He looked dazed. His eyes were glazed over. He rose unsteadily and teetered a little bit. She stayed seated, smiling contentedly and breathing deeply. She had got what she needed, his essence from his soul. And it had been easy, his soul was quite shallow. Yes, she was satisfied. He walked away as if in a trance. She looked up at the tree and rested a while.

It was reported that a man in a black shirt had drowned in the waves off the bridge in the bay.

A young man dressed in a blue shirt stopped the groundsman to ask for directions to the old tree with the giant roots. As he walked towards the gnarly giant, he immediately spotted her looking divine in red.