FVWTBT

The young man stared out at the vista before him.

He was reclined on the balcony in a chair of wood and canvas.

His view, except when interrupted by linen curtains blowing with the wind off the mountain, was of lush hillside, flowing into valley, and into the Caribbean Sea.

He was listening. He heard the fantastic melodies of birds; the dogs barking; steel drums and reggae playing; crickets chirping; children yelling; mothers fretting; and faintly, he heard thunder rumbling.

Listening was different than hearing, however, and the young man heard all those things but listened to none.

He was listening to her.

Communication on the verge of breakdown, both of them were becoming desperate in the face of a dreadful delay on the line.

They had settled on abandoning conversation, for the sake of just listening.

As he listened to her doing nothing but breathe, his view changed.

He was now focused inward, no longer staring at the sea that seperated him from her.

A display was being witnessed.

On the balcony railing before him, a lizard had appeared. A male Green Anole, the reptile began an elaborate performance. In commanding fashion, the lizard puffed out its throat to reveal the fiery passion inside. Red scales, projecting from green; a natural mechanism of unadulterated showmanship.

He stared, always listening to her breathing, as the island turned to gold. He was now watching another magnificent display courtesy of the sun.

As if the sun saved the best for last everyday, it saved this evening hour for a dose of the most spectacular light on tap.

He watched the sun's last display before it set behind the mountain.

Still listening to her in the fading light, he watched a storm on the ocean.

Another display.

He had just said goodnight to her when a ferociously brilliant bolt of lightning cut the horizon.

Sparks were flying across the sea.

He knew what was required, and promptly booked a plane ticket.

It was time for the young man to put on a display
.