Saturday, January 8, 2022

what stays during Winter Break...stays in Winter Break



 Jesse was pretty sure he was bad at ending things. Of course, he didn't know how to start much either. But it had been winter break and it was coming to an end. He hoped Chealsea would figure it out. After all, it was one of those things that was never supposed to happen again. After all, she was the one who said she wanted to make a change.

Sure, he'd listened. She didn't like herself. She wanted to who she really was. Only, it was kind of like listening to someone talk as if they were an alien who wanted to go back home. He guessed. Maybe he wasn't listening at all. But after all, they were alone, just at the coffee place. Actually, they weren't supposed to be here, but had met up with a couple of friends from school in between Christmas and New Year's. Naturally, they were the only stragglers. 

Everyone else was a couple. Even Sid and Nancy were together, which surprised everyone, but they were in twins teddy bear hoddies and jet black hair. If anyone knew how to be together it was those two. Naturally, they weren't cracking that mystery.

"So what will you do?" Jess asked back then while Chealsea was cradling what was left of her black coffee. Her fingers were so long. He imagined she played the piano or maybe something musical. He kept staring at her fingers while she told him she was ready for the procedure.

Oh, it made his teeth hurt just listening to all the medications she'd be on, and the surgery alone. He winced now. Was that why he went back to her place? Was it just a challenge or just his ways to say, "Don't do it! Leave well enough alone."

He didn't want to think he loved her. They were just friends from art class. Still, it wasn't something they were going to tell their friends about. It was their secret.

"It's not a big deal," she said now, but he was confused.

"Huh?" He winced a face of possible regret or just slight sadness as they waited together for the others, before lockdown, perhaps. "You mean.." He kept his mouth swelled shut as he looked at her. "Do you even have the money for all this?"

"I am going to sell some things," Chelsea told him.

"But you haven't yet." He placed his hand on top of hers.

"But I will." Even when she said it, he was sad.

"You don't really even have breasts..maybe.." he winced, thinking he should be supportive, but all he wanted to do was to run away and cry himself asleep.

Her look was ever so strange. He kissed her cheek and hugged her so. 

"Maybe, you could wait another year." He whispered in her ear. Wasn't she afraid of infectious diseases and lord knows where this pandemic might go?

Meanwhile, everyone showed up.

"God, we were wondering if this would ever happen," smiled Nancy and of course, Sid got everyone to cheer them on.

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Max & Amber REBOOT



How many months had it been? Why did it still worry her? Just the thought of him sent shivers down her spine. What if they did meet again?

Amber's recurring dream was seeing him sitting there on her bed at night. Gazing at her, stroking her hair away from her forehead. 

"Will, you play nice this time, love?" His grin was haunting and he looked ready to kiss her, or would he choke her?

Naturally, she never let him have his way. Sometimes she'd find the thick kitchen blade beneath her pillow and chase him down the hall. Once, she even got him to go in the dryer. Yes, that was such a silly but satisfying dream.

Other times, it was his turn. And as much as she intended to hate it, his kisses were of lust and a dark sweetness she couldn't really explain.

Amber rose up on her elbows in bed, thinking what had she done to become this lonely creature of habit?

Oh, right, she lived in her grandmother's old farmhouse (alone), and Max was staying with his uncle just up the road.

They'd actually only met once and it was because he got a letter that wasn't theirs. It was something addressed to her place. Really, it was nothing. 

At first glance of Max, she was left a little breathless. After all, he was the brooding sort who looked a bit unhappy. But that was her cup of tea. She didn't really like the happy ones. It meant he'd lived with hardships, she thought.

She'd wanted to know him, but he never came again. Jane who lived on the other side of her in a makeshift storage unit in her glorious garden told her he was gay.

"Seriously?" Well, Amber never felt it. She must be wrong.

"Well, he's sick you know. Got the disease." Jane the vegan explained it was HIV. 

"Um." Amber nodded back guessing it was serious, but from afar he looked rather fit. It was enough to keep her going, perhaps. Loneliness was truly a sad art, she guessed. But in her mind, it was like a romance brewing even if it wasn't physical.

She guessed that's what happened to folks who couldn't make it in the city. She worked for a vet only three days a week now. Usually, in the field, helping out with cattle and horses. It was a decent wage. Not that she had any animals of her own, other than her cat Sassy and a guard dog named Rocky. Yes, she had a lot of time on her hands. After all, she didn't have a TV.