This week in The Bench series… a slightly different scene.
I wasn’t planning on straying from the original theme of our Bench of the Week series: older local gents gathering on any available piece of public infrastructure to discuss weighty topics. However, I had a pretty good week and I’m a sucker for romance anyway, so when I stumbled upon this photo while digging through my archives, I decided to make an exception. That awww feeling that hit me when I took the photo rushed over me once again, so it’s only right to share this one with the readers.
If you took a walk along Molo Longo, the longest pier in Rijeka, this is one of the typical sights you might run into. A couple sat on a bench, sharing a quiet moment while gazing at the peaceful water surface. No debates, no discussions, no words at all – in this case, the mere physical presence of a loved one is enough.
It’s also worth noting that senior couples are one of my favourite things in this world. A slow-paced walk around the block or a shared visit to the market, holding hands or strolling arm in arm… Elder couples are the ones who prove that love (and patience, and dedication) really is a force that conquers all – time, family problems, health issues, or any other obstacle life might have thrown in their way.
They are still here, in spite of every bad thing they had to deal with in the last 50-ish years. They dealt with it together, and now they have every right to tranquil, gentle moments such as these.
Okay, I’m done being mushy. Still… tell someone you love them today.
