I remember having noticed Vanessa near the buffet spread looking at the chicken wistfully. I walked up to her and leaned close to her ear. I caught a whiff of that wonderful smell that is her before asking her, "How can chicken cause such a pretty woman to look like this?"
"Oh, Mark! You startled me! How are you, dear? It's been so long! How is Carla? I heard you are having a baby?"
"Yes, yes we are. She's in her 8th month. It's a girl. I'm hoping to name her after you."
"Mark..I wish you wouldn't.."
I looked at her. Time's baffling walls always collapsed when I was near Vanessa. It was like memory of any part of my life apart from the 3 years we were together seemed to be blotted out of my mind. I lightly touched her arm tilting my head towards the balcony. After a moment of hesitation, she followed me there.
There was a sudden silence from the crowded hall we were just inside. There were people back there who were gossiping mainly of her recent divorce. People and their need to fill up their lives with nonsense. She was leaning against a wall watching the trees that clothed the earth. I stepped closer to her and whispered, "Time doesn't change memory, Vanessa."
Her voice hardened, "But responsibilities should remind us."
"Of what? That we failed ourselves? Sometimes I wish you would open your eyes to reality. You love me. You know that.."
"I do love you. But I've learnt to incorporate it into my life. I'm okay with being in love with you, Mark."
I quickly led her to a dark corner of the balcony, pushed her against the wall and kissed her roughly on the mouth. She didn't resist me. It must have lasted a minute or so for we were breathing very heavily when she pushed me away from her. I watched the milky moon highlight her sparkling eyes and suddenly felt her lips on mine. This time it was a slow, soft kiss. I gently stroked her back feeling the curve of her waist before resting my hands on her hips. Just as I was moving my hands up to her breasts she pushed me away again. I tipped my head to the side and grinned. I could still feel her tender, full lips on mine.
"Is this how you become okay with being in love with me? I like it."
She gave me her car keys. Kissed me briefly and said, "I hate you, Mark. For doing this to me."
"Oh, Mark! You startled me! How are you, dear? It's been so long! How is Carla? I heard you are having a baby?"
"Yes, yes we are. She's in her 8th month. It's a girl. I'm hoping to name her after you."
"Mark..I wish you wouldn't.."
I looked at her. Time's baffling walls always collapsed when I was near Vanessa. It was like memory of any part of my life apart from the 3 years we were together seemed to be blotted out of my mind. I lightly touched her arm tilting my head towards the balcony. After a moment of hesitation, she followed me there.
There was a sudden silence from the crowded hall we were just inside. There were people back there who were gossiping mainly of her recent divorce. People and their need to fill up their lives with nonsense. She was leaning against a wall watching the trees that clothed the earth. I stepped closer to her and whispered, "Time doesn't change memory, Vanessa."
Her voice hardened, "But responsibilities should remind us."
"Of what? That we failed ourselves? Sometimes I wish you would open your eyes to reality. You love me. You know that.."
"I do love you. But I've learnt to incorporate it into my life. I'm okay with being in love with you, Mark."
I quickly led her to a dark corner of the balcony, pushed her against the wall and kissed her roughly on the mouth. She didn't resist me. It must have lasted a minute or so for we were breathing very heavily when she pushed me away from her. I watched the milky moon highlight her sparkling eyes and suddenly felt her lips on mine. This time it was a slow, soft kiss. I gently stroked her back feeling the curve of her waist before resting my hands on her hips. Just as I was moving my hands up to her breasts she pushed me away again. I tipped my head to the side and grinned. I could still feel her tender, full lips on mine.
"Is this how you become okay with being in love with me? I like it."
She gave me her car keys. Kissed me briefly and said, "I hate you, Mark. For doing this to me."
1 comment:
Hmmm... Interesting that you wrote from the man's point of view.
That's one messy/sticky issue the story deals with!
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