“ Smoke curls from the cigarette he balances expertly between two fingers. It creates patterns in the air as you watch it rise. It reaches up to stroke the evening summer sky as he exhales, letting the smoke rush from his lungs like a cloud being released from the grasps of a giant. He flicks the cigarette butt casually over the balcony and watches it fall until it touches the ground, before he turns to smile. It’s only a half smile though. This half smile, that leaves you guessing and wondering and wanting. It confirms everything and nothing at the same time. He walks through the door and comes to lie down next to you. He smells of cigarette smoke and mints. He smells like home. Neither of you want to break the moment with talking so you lie there in silence both completely comfortable with just the sound of the other ones methodical breathing and the warm rays of the evening sun making patterns on your skin. You turn to look at him. You start to study him. His skin glows from the sun he caught today with a reddish hue to his golden cheeks. You notice the curl of his dark, thick lashes that reach his eyelids, the way his chin juts out, as if to defy the world and everything it means. His hair is swept across his forehead and falls down on one side into his eye. He brushes it away as it sways gently in the warm breeze. The light begins to fade outside of the bubble you’ve created and you can feel the world slowing down, getting ready to sleep. His eyes flutter and he turns to look at you. The light catches in his eyes, making them glint, reflecting back the olive green colour. You could loose yourself in those eyes that can hide everything. On the odd occasion you can see the pain and sadness but at this moment you’re too lost to see anything but colour. He turns back to look at the ceiling as your gaze still lingers on him. The light is dimming now and shadows are being cast against the wall as you continue to watch him. You slide a little closer so that you are side by side, both watching the ceiling. You can hear his breathing deepen now and you realise he’s fallen asleep as his head lolls to one side and you can feel his breath hitting your neck. Everything’s peaceful as the sun says it’s last goodbye and slips beyond the horizon. As you look at him sleeping you realise that this is where he is safe. Troubled by day, peaceful by night. You close your eyes and listen to his breaths as they flutter from his mouth, cooling your neck. You succumb to the drowsiness but not before one last look at his undisturbed face. You remember how he looks because when the sun greets you again his face will contort under the hidden pain he keeps inside. He hasn’t told you what it is so you can only guess. To you, he is a mystery that you are willing to spend the rest of your life unraveling.