The surface bowed under the rush of air, quietly took in the eight talons, and erupted as it gave up a thrashing sick-silver hull. Oliver sat on his bench and squinted as the duo stole off into the sky behind the trees, steady wings over a violent dance. There were buzzing flashes in his eyes left over from the sun-glints off the tail. It had been an osprey for certain, but he hadn't gotten a good enough look to identify the fish. Meditating on the scene, he finished his bagel, tried to rub the spots out of his sight, and started back down the trail.
	Tanya was awake by the time he returned, drinking coffee by the window and staring down at the morning commuters. Oliver hugged her good morning and went to pour himself a mug. She asked him how he had slept and he answered very well, and how had she slept. She said just fine and he sat down next to her to stare at the cars going on their ways.

	"Hey, I saw an osprey catch a fish in the park."

	Tanya took interest and he elaborated a bit. A light drizzle began to darken the sidewalks outside as they talked. Eventually one of them noticed the clock read 8:30 and they both scrambled to get out the door, down to the car. In their rush, a carton of cream was left out on the counter, and throughout the day it warmed and gave sweat.

	Oliver arrived home at six and watched a nature program. Tanya arrived an hour later, carrying groceries and soaked from the rain. They cooked together as a movie played and ate in front of the window as the overcast skies lost their blue. Lights were turning on across the city.
	That night in bed, Oliver briefly jotted the day's highlights down in a journal and kissed Tanya goodnight. With the lights off, he stayed on his back and let his mind wander. His focus began to swim around the osprey and the fish. He thought of those claws and what a nice shape their curves traced. He thought of the arching splash and the bow of the lake. He thought of the flash of the tail as it ducked back into the water, and the pale of its back as it thrust into the murk. The murk came to be around Oliver and it was a dark murk and soon he was asleep.

	That morning, Oliver woke up in an empty bed with a note from Tanya saying that she had an early meeting and to have a good day. He spent the early hours drinking coffee and flipping through a draft Tanya had left on the table, chuckling every now and then. When the time came, he called a cab to work.
	When Oliver got home, Tanya was back at the window with an open bottle of beer already out on the table for him. He thanked her and sat down. She put her head on his shoulder and placed a hand on his knee. She said she was glad it was the weekend and Oliver agreed. She looked up at him.

	"Did you know Jen at work is a bird watcher? I told her about the osprey you saw yesterday and that excited her, she said they typically don't spend much time in the parks around here."

	Oliver's response was caught behind a sip of beer.

	"Ah, no I didn't. I figured as much, I've never seen one there before."

	"I guess the fish are too quick around here."

	"Ha, clearly. Or lucky."

	They spoke until Tanya stood up to stretch and said she would go work for a while. Oliver stayed alone in the living room and got another beer. He watched the streets rippling in the window but soon his eyes were trailing and his brow was furrowed.

	White form in the murk.

	He watched a history program and sipped. The cat wove through his legs a few turns and fell asleep over his foot. It was nice to drink something cool. When the show ended, he nudged the cat away and went to his bed. He put his feet up and pulled his journal from the bedside table. His mind raced too quickly to begin an entry so he thumbed over to yesterday's bulletpoints.

	"- Osprey dove at fish in lake."

	Oliver's tired eyes wondered what an osprey dove was until he made a sharp breath and smiled at his mistake. He crossed out and rewrote the sentence to remove the ambiguity. Tanya entered the room with tea and they sat and spoke. She said how nice it would be to fly and catch a fish like that and Oliver agreed. Soon the lights were off and Oliver was wandering again.

	And then a gripping sweat broke out on the small of Oliver's back and he thought of the glimmering tail tucking away behind the trees and a thick sense of unease clotted Oliver up on the inside. His knuckles clutched under the sheets and he found few moments of rest that night. In the morning Tanya found him on the couch.

	"What's the matter, honey?"

	"I had a hard night of sleep."

	"Oh, I'm sorry, dear."

	Tanya turned on the kettle and ran her fingers through his hair. Oliver tilted his head up.

	"What'd you say to Jen about the osprey?"

	"Just that you saw it try to catch a fish in the park. Why?"

	Oliver said that it was nothing and paused for a moment with his eyes turned down.

	"I saw the osprey swoop down at a fish."

	Tanya stood a little more still. Oliver seemed very unsure of his words.

	"I know, honey."

	"The osprey tried to catch a fish."

	Tanya was uneased and she opened her mouth and then her lips pulled back and her eyes flashed. Oliver watched her and saw that. She stared a little off to his left and croaked up into an "I know, love." [unfinished]