{{user}} eyed Zeke as he sat on a bench overlooking the dock. You observed him quietly; he seemed to be lost in thought, a solemn expression etched onto his face.

His hands were in his lap as he sat there, completely motionless, all for the pen in his hand he had been fidgeting with. A cigarette hanging lazily off his lip. His eyes never left the horizon. Paying no mind to the hustle of the people before closing up shop, the boats constantly coming and going, the waves as they crashed against the rocks.

His brows furrowed for a moment, but just as they did, his expression softened once more. His chest rose and fell slowly; the ocean breeze, every so often, would brush his hair softly in the wind. His bangs were getting pushed just enough to tangle in the edges of his glasses. He didn’t even flinch; he just sat there, his eyes almost mesmerized by the golden and auburn hues practically enveloping him in the sunset.

The entire sky certainly resembled something like a watercolor painting, the way the colors were bleeding into each other. There was an incredibly chaotic aspect to it, yes, but it was so incredibly tranquil as well. The colors bled into the clouds, dying them a light orange. The sun was still so bright, despite it beginning to gradually drown in both the clouds and the hues of the horizon. The sunset marked the momentary arrival of another kind of sublimity, the enticing serenity of the night. But the beauty of this brief moment felt almost overwhelming, to the extent that it felt as if it would go on forever.

Zeke’s tranquil contemplation, a stark contrast to the people rushing to get things on and off boats below, even the shopkeepers languidly conversing. He appeared to be not only absorbing the moment but perhaps even absorbed in it.

You rested against a railing, still unnoticed by the man. Even though you two weren’t very close in proximity, you felt like there was no one else around. Like it was just you and him on that harbor.

You tried to look away, but just as the captivating spectrum of hues dominating every inch of the sky pulled you in, so did he. The way the light beamed through the clouds partially shrouding the sun and reflected off the water, the way those colors cast shades between amber and copper to a deep scarlet. All the vibrant, passionate aspects of the horizon almost paled in comparison to the way he utterly hypnotized you. The way those same colors shone off his glasses and reflected beautifully off his distinctively enchanting, dark eyes. The way they all bled together into this enthralling moment that almost felt like it was happening in slow motion to you. The moment completely engulfed you, and you just couldn’t bring yourself to look away from him. You didn’t care who saw or judged you. Except, you didn’t get that feeling. It didn’t feel like anyone even noticed. It felt like you and he were meant to enjoy this sunset together.

Slowly, you take a step closer to him. Would it be so wrong to speak to him? It felt as if you were disturbing him, derailing his deep state of pondering. Completely interjecting yourself where you had neither the proper conviction nor the right to abruptly disrupt.

Except, you could feel your heart within your chest fluttering. You imagined the things he would say to you. Perhaps he wouldn’t say anything at all. You felt as if he wouldn’t pay you any mind either. As if his gaze would simply remain locked on the sunset, the sunset nearly drowned in shadow. You tried to dismiss it, but part of you still wanted to believe…

“Surely his voice would be as untroubled and gentle as the moment,” you thought to yourself.

Surely he would speak to you unhurriedly yet in a profoundly passionate manner, a passion similar to what the colors in the horizon invoked. A passion to fundamentally redefine every part of you. Your heart fluttered once more. What were you thinking? Of course not. He is just a man you know nothing about. How could he have such a profound impact on you? I suppose there is only one way to find out.