28 January 2013
2010
Stealing glances across the room Your eyes alight on mine I quickly turn my gaze back down Did I look away in time?
Later, cashing up the tills for the day In the basement office alone There's no one else here but you and I The rest have all gone home
You lean forwards to show me something And happen to brush my hand The lurch in the pit of my stomach Is something I never planned
On your day off, I call a friend But it's your velvet voice I hear I apologise and hang up the phone With you still ringing in my ear
One day, you turn up late Your eyes are red and sore I want to hold and comfort you But just say "I'm sorry", nothing more
A while later you tell me You're transferring to another store I play it cool but can't believe I won't be seeing you anymore
We go out for goodbye drinks As it turns out the others can't come So it's just you and me there sipping cocktails I don't think I've ever had more fun
Like every day, we're talking Laughing as we always do When I think with sudden clarity "I'm half in love with you"
I remind myself of my situation I've been seeing someone for some time But I know this could never go anywhere And anyway, is "half in love" a crime?
When it's time to leave we shake hands And say "hope to see you again" As I walk away from you I feel like I just missed a train
The most important train of my life, that is That would have carried me away To places unseen and incredible I don't know why I feel this way
Months pass and life is humdrum Without you, work is grey And then one day I hear the news You're coming back our way
The train was just delayed, I guess I'm so happy I could dance Maybe this time I'll have the bottle To take this second chance?
I see you again and it's tough To hold back my elated smile We return to our platonic ways But only for a while
I ring in 2011 newly alone Having ended my deadbeat situation I'm pissed at myself for delaying so long You can clearly see my frustration
You call me in at the end of the day To ask if I'm alright I tell you I'm fine, you nod and ask, "Do you want to go for a drink tonight?"
I'm delighted but try to keep cool "Yes, please. That would be great" We go out under the pretence of friendship But mere friends don't stay so late
Things become clearer when a few hours in Neither of us want to leave And finally, you turn and you kiss me So deeply I can't breathe
We kiss passionately, hearts racing To a beat that's been playing for a year You look at me and ask huskily If I want to get out of here
You correct yourself, feeling too forward "I'm sorry, I don't want you to think -" Made bold by a year's worth of longing, I interrupt you: "Finish your drink."
The rest of the night is history And so will be the rest of our life From coworkers to friends to something more And in a year's time, husband and wife.
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True story, the magic and serendipity of which I can never hope to do justice.
Reminiscing • Opuss № I