Gaze deeply into my eyes and I will allow you to submerge into my consciousness. Emotions barely hidden, is that a smile or a frown. You would know by looking, peering into a world sheltered from pain, calmly silent and serene. Brave the shock and the torture, for me. Just give it a glance, let me pull you in.
It was a moment that you missed. Standing but a foot apart, I look down at my feet. I turn them both inward then out as I pull my keys out of my clutch.
I wait for a split second and again, you miss the moment.
You say nothing as I turn the key and open the door. I pause again.
I forgot if I actually said it or mentally said it.
Walking into my house, I shut and lock the door behind me. Samson greeted me with a loud meow as he followed me into the kitchen where his food dish was empty. I poured him some fresh kibble and scratched behind his ears for a moment.
I sighed pretty heavily, wondering what went wrong. Samson’s ears twitched. It sounded like someone was fumbling around in the backyard. I heard a hushed, “oh shit” and cobble stones sliding.
I grabbed a knife from the block and glued my back against the wall. If this was a robbery, this guy chose the worst house and the worst timing to be creeping around. My kitchen lights were on, obviously someone was home.
I waited for what felt like thirty minutes when really it was thirty seconds before I heard footsteps climbing up the back steps. Beyond freaking out at this point, I inched myself toward the yellow painted 9-light door. I had to see this person and he had to see me holding a knife in my own house to know I wasn’t messing around.
I gathered my courage knowing this being was only two steps away from my back door.
I jumped up, hit the backyard lights and held up my knife,
“GET THE FUCK OFF MY PROPERTY!”
I heard a low “aaahhh” and an almost tumble backward down the three steps it took to get to the deck.
Feeling smug I peered outside, to catch a glimpse of the person that just tried to invade my house. When the he in question looked up I realized it was you. Suddenly I was feeling very remorseful and a bit ticked off. I threw the door open still holding my knife very tightly.
“What the fuck are you doing?!”
I shouted. You had a smug look on your face but I could tell that you were very embarrassed at the same time.
“Did you forget something, what do you want?”
My patience waning and I began to gesture with my knife when I realized what I was doing. I set the knife down near some potted plants and waited for your response.
“I forgot something very important but I knew you wouldn’t be at the front. I thought about throwing rocks at your window and maybe climbing up but that would be stupid and very juvenile. I saw there was light in the back and here I am. Scared shitless by a the woman that I had the most wonderful date with.”
I was dumbfounded. That was the stupidest thing I have ever heard anyone say. I have a doorbell for a reason. Still, the way you rubbed the back of your neck and your expression at the end was kind of cute. Can I say that I am in a state of giddy bewilderment?
Biting the bottom of my lip, I stood there silently weighing out the pros and cons.
“This isn’t normal, you showing up at my back door. I even heard you bumbling around. You’re lucky I don’t have a dog.”
I started to ramble. Maybe now was a right time to get a dog, Samson had been helpful in first alerting me but he zipped away shortly after.
You said with actual regret in your eyes.
“I missed my chance with you on your front porch and I just wanted to make up for that.”
Part of me knew that this is what you were going for but I just couldn’t shake the creepy of the whole situation.
“Well you killed the mood entirely."
I replied, and stepped aside while gesturing you in. I made sure to lock the back door and leave the knife on the kitchen counter as I followed you to the front.
“I really did have a good time with you,”
You went on as I walked you out.
“I know my chances of ever seeing you again are slim to none but a fella can try right?”
It’s not like you didn’t have my number or didn’t know where I lived. You already proved yourself to be a creeper-ish type so I was going to have to change my locks, purchase a shotgun and get a guard dog with extra bite.
“I’m not sure if we would work out in the end but it was fun while it lasted.”
I chuckled half-heartedly and waved goodbye.
It took only one, “I’m sorry, I was an idiot. Please, please forgive me.” text to convince me to give you a second chance. In reality, it was five of our mutual friends, of which three that happened to be my closest friends, whom all begged me to give you another chance. They were lobbying hard for you and I to get together again. They went as far as setting me up on a blind date with you.
Still, here we are 53 years strong. I will never forget that moment.
“Did it ever occur to you that this is the way most horror movies begin? What kind of nut would fall in love with a guy like that?”
You smiled at me and I was filled with the joy of seeing you again. Time was slipping away from us fast. I never missed any more moments. I never took any of them for granted. We shared each and every moment until your last.
“You said that you hated clichés,”
“so I was trying to be original for you.”
turnnoffyourmind
areudirty
theartofmadeline
stormborns
gracieabrams
andulkaphoto
