Today’s task is to use Mamihlapinatapei as the basis for a story:

“The wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start.”

It was Maryanne who first brought the matter to my attention. I’d been going about my daily routine, you know the kind, same old day in day out, when she casually mentioned to me that Jane the water gatherer had been staring at me as I walked across the courtyard earlier in the day.

I knew who Jane was, the daughter of old Seth the well digger, and she was a rare beauty around these parts. I considered her a woman to admire, a woman who really was in looks primarily, way above anyone such as myself.

I am no beauty, as my mother would say ‘James you are no oil painting so don’t be criticising anyone else’s looks.’ Though I did take it as a compliment that Jane would be checking me out, so to speak.

The following day I did run into her or rather she ran into me. There was an awkward moment as we both realised who it was we were facing.

She looked down as she immediately knew I was of a higher social status than her. That was one thing about our community we were very socially conscious.

It was one thing to joke about one person fancying another, it was another thing altogether for it to actually materialise.

Jane would have been well aware of who I was as I was of her. But it didn’t stop her saying hello, calling me James even, which further fuelled my interest in her.

It was Jane who initiated the first meeting. She suggested we both meet after our workday down by the river, where we could stroll and chat.

I found it flattering the attention she gave me. There was no arguing about her beauty. She was strikingly beautiful, with rich thick auburn hair that cascaded down her back and the bluest eyes that just grabbed my attention.

She was a very forthright woman and made it clear from the beginning of the social dangers we both faced if we pursued any sort of relationship.

I didn’t know there was one as it had been made clear to me over the years that I was to marry eventually within my own social circle. To look outside of that for both of us could result in ostracism from the community. Being shut out was not a good thing as you then belonged nowhere and I had seen it happen a few times over the years to very well meaning people.

I was reluctant for that reason to go much beyond banal pleasantries. I could see no point in us imagining there could be anything more to be achieved. I loved my family and I was sure Jane loved hers. What she was envisaging was simply foolhardy in my opinion.

But from the moment we met on the riverbank I knew from the way she looked at me, and from the feelings I had beginning to roll around within me, that there was far more to us than I was admitting to myself.

We had many awkward silences that afternoon. We both felt it; I felt her eyes looking into mine as if pleading for my attention. I knew I was well and truly mesmerised by her.

I fumbled my way through a stilted conversation before saying it was time to go. It was getting dark and the curfew was strictly enforced these days so there was no denying it was time to go.

I know we hesitated on saying our farewell. We hadn’t stopped looking at each other the whole time. There was I thought a safe distance between us the whole time, anyone who saw us could never say it was any more than two people talking.

Finally we did bid each other farewell, I mumbled something like I was glad to have met her and she smiled and laid her hand on my arm in passing.

It was like being hit by an electric bolt, lights flashed in my mind and tingles ran up and down my body. I watched her departing shape as she made her way back to the village.

In my heart there was both dread and terrifying exhilaration at the prospect of another meeting.

Written for: http://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/prompt-62-mamihlapinatapei/