As the glowing embers faded, the youthful exuberance of the night gave way to the rising gravitas of the day. A new dawn, so beautiful!

He knew it was the right moment. As he walked over to her, she could sense what was coming. She turned a shoulder, in hopes of deflecting the coming revolution. He blithely ignored her and spoke with an assertiveness that was rare for him.

"I can't stand this."

"What would that be?" she replied coyfully.

"This platonic relationship. This can't be it."

"Oh?" Like a cat pawing with a mouse.

"Look, this doesn't end well for me. I've felt something, and I can't sit around and hope these feelings go away, or that you'll wake up one day and see me standing here, waiting for you. The more we stay in this hazy zone, the more my feelings for you grow stronger. And I can't bear to think of losing you to some other guy... that would devastate me. I want to know that you stood here, on this morning," (the first cawing of the seagulls could be heard, what serendipitous timing!), "and decided I wasn't your second choice. I was your first. I want to know that you saw me, warts and all, and chose me. I can't be your fallback guy. That isn't me."

It was a rare moment for him, to speak with such singularity in unmuddled tones ... the clarity of his emotions for her unified his thoughts. What a beautiful dawn!