crippled love
coffee cup filling, then over filled. hot dark roast burning her tiny fingers. she never seemed to notice. she snaps the lid on as the flow pours over the counter. she hands him the cup and says no charge. he never removes his glasses, blue tinted. he smiles and the moment melts like chocolate in the mouth.
she is a barista. a job she is particularly good at when she is not distracted. she has been making cups for customers through the summer. and she is satisfied. she listens to live music there on mondays until close and then she hops to the local bar for something stronger.
he is an aspiring musician. on his way to play a show in new york for the night. he dropped in before making the three hour trek. he stops in to see her but she has no clue. back to the customers she bounces like a rubber ball as soon as he exits the building. she believes she will never see him again, too cool…. but she hopes to make him all hers.
he smiles all the way to the city. thinking about how she seemed so flustered to be waiting on him. and he admits to himself that she has a fine body, and a nice smile. he believes he will see her very soon.
the next day she gets hired by the bar next door. she is running food and praying for a bar shift, much more glamorous. she is bubbly and makes her presence known. she is asked to wait tables in no time. and he is sitting in her section, with a girl. she can hardly ask them what they want to order. she gives attitude. and he gives her his number.
she whispers in a girl friends ear as he walks out…”he will be mine”.
soon enough they are being seen all over town together. hand in hand they are in love.
a year goes by, and nearly two. he seems distracted, she sees stars. and suddenly, much the way it started, it is over. he leaves her on a blanket on the forth of july tripping on acid. he leaves her with a smile. but she will not smile for years.
she drinks, and drugs, and sleeps with stranger after stranger looking to fill the void he has burrowed out of in her heart. she asks him one day as they are passing each other on the street…. how did you expect me to live with this crippling hole in my heart?
he says he had hoped she would come away with him. but she is tethered to the booze and the drugs and the strangers. and nothing will fill this hole.
he moves on in his direction and she in hers. they used to dance all night together. and now they dance further and further apart.
she cleans up her act, he gets a divorce. and suddenly their worlds collide again. her smile and his eyes like the stars she has been counting to fall asleep each night. when his hands touch her hips she knows that the puzzle has finally fallen into place. but something is still missing.
she remembers how it used to be. and she can never go back. he knows how he wants it to be, and she will never be the way he wants. and so they will keep agitating the universe with their vibrations until something gives again.
he needs her hips, she needs his eyes. but these are just a cracker jack box prize.
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
