the neighbor’s garden

He stood motionless in the shade of an old oak tree, his breathing shallow and quiet as he watched her step into the orchard. It was as if the world around him had slowed down, every detail bathed in an unreal, golden light. The sight of her made his pulse race, and yet he hardly dared to move for fear that the slightest sound would alert her and shatter this quiet moment. He fervently hoped that she would not notice him.

She was wrapped in a gauzy red negligee that fluttered in the gentle summer breeze, and the sunlight filtering through the leaves made the fine fabric glow as if she herself were wearing the glow of the day on her skin. With every step she took, the dress seemed to cling gently to her body, every line and curve fleeting yet clearly visible before they were once again enveloped by the fabric. He had to avert his eyes, only to look back at her immediately, as if he couldn’t resist the allure of the sight.

Part of him knew that he shouldn’t be here, that he shouldn’t have disturbed this moment. But a strange tension held him back, as if he were spellbound, held fast by the hope that she would remain unsuspecting and continue to abandon herself to the garden and the silence. The thought that she might discover him sent a wave of thrills through his body. He imagined how she would suddenly stop and turn to look at him – would she be startled or just keep walking as if she hadn’t noticed anything? He watched as she walked barefoot across the grass, completely introverted, as if this garden was her secret retreat. Her movements were quiet, like a familiar melody that she played just for herself, and yet he hoped that this scene would never end. The leaves seemed to lean in her direction, as if paying silent tribute to her grace. There was an inexplicable magic in the air, and he felt a strong desire to be a part of it – this summer, this garden, this moment that seemed so infinitely precious to him. And then he saw it: a small smile creeping onto her lips, as if she was filled with a hidden thought. There was a hint of adventure in that smile, as if she was indulging in a forbidden fantasy that no one would ever know about. He wondered if perhaps she was actually thinking of one day abandoning herself completely to nature, without any clothes, just her and the sun, the grass and the gentle embrace of the wind. The idea sent a wave of tension through his body, a tension he was barely able to hide as he lingered in the shadows.