SJL was the core of my waking life for about two and a half years. She was beautiful, with her long blonde hair and Charlie perfume. At least twice in the week I would cycle the two miles to her house to spend three eternal hours in her presence. At the weekend we would manage to see each other at least on Sunday afternoon, when her family gathered at her grandparents' flat, which was below the flat where I lived. There was often a meeting on Saturday as well, and sometimes we would get to have lunch or tea together.

One of the happiest days of my life was when we went on a trip to Brighton with her parents, whom I liked very much. They never made me feel embarrassed and always treated me like a family friend. We went for a long walk along the coast, past the marina, which was then still in its infancy. The wind blew, the sun played hide and seek behind the clouds and SJL and me walked together, wrapped up in each other. That was it. Simple pleasures last longest in the memory.

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