Trifecta: The Moments When Time Stops

The minute hand tick-tocked at a snail’s pace. She was early. And nervous.

To resist checking the car clock for the third time since 11:57am, she paced the sidewalk, twirled her keys, practiced yoga breathing, and struck up a conversation with a store proprietor then a stranger.

“How long do I wait?” she thought. The slightest bit of panic creeping in as she checked her lipstick in the side mirror. Again.

He was hardly late, just five minutes, but minutes feel like hours when you’re anticipating someone. And nervous.

When he finally turned the corner and she recognized his smile, the air rushed completely out of her lungs. An involuntary response. As each step brought him into sharper focus, she realized she was holding her breath. And more nervous.

He looked handsome though not exactly as her mind’s picture. And sweet. And nervous too.

“Can we hug?” she blurted out surprising even herself.

“Of course,” he said, his deep voice registering with her ears for the first time.

She draped her long arms loosely, at first, around his muscled shoulders. His strong hands crisscrossed firmly around her waist. They remained motionless (on the outside) for a very long time.

Collar to hip bones. Body heat co-mingling through their clothes.

Chests rising and falling in rhythm. Breathing in the essence of each other.

It was the kind of hug that made her forget, for a split second, they were “just friends” and in a public place and she needed to “appear” calm. 

And they stayed like that a little too long.

But there was no awkwardness.

And the touching seemed natural.

She felt his warm breath next to her ear whisper, “Let’s go do something fun.”

And she thought to herself, “As if there is something more fun than this.” 

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This week, Trifecta’s one-word prompt (third definition) is:

APPEAR

1a : to be or come in sight <the sun appears on the horizon>

  b : to show up <appears promptly at eight each day>

2: to come formally before an authoritative body <must appear in court today>

3: to have an outward aspect : seem <appears happy enough>

That's Not Why I'm Here: SOCS

So this stream of consciousness is coming from sunny FLA. Five minutes of writing that is not edited. Just written and posted. As always, I gratefully link up at Jana's place where other like-minded writers do too.

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Florida is not one of my favorites places because I don’t have much in common with the people who live in this part…they're old. Now some of you out there may be thinking, well she’s "old" too. And I will say to you, “NO. I’m not. Age is just a number.” I hope if you ever meet me you think, “Hey, she has a young spirit.”

But that’s not what this is about. This is about why I’m vacationing in a place I wouldn't choose myself. And I'm not Veruca Salt either.

I’m here because three other women are and I was graciously invited. I’m here because I’ve known these women as acquaintances for the last 13 years. I’m here because 3 years, 2 months, 13 days ago, we became bonded unexpectedly and forever because of tragedy.

In the face of a devastating event such as the loss of a 19 year old child who was the same age as one of yours, who was away on his own as a freshman in college like yours, who’s bedroom window was 15 feet away from yours, who’s death was so incomprehensible that you will never, ever be able to explain or make sense of it, there has to be people to pick up the pieces of shattered hearts.

And there are certain times of the year that bring out the “bad”. This is one of those times.

And as two of us listened to a sermon today in which she wanted no part, we understood that at times she feels abandoned by her faith.

And it’s not that we don’t speak of him. That the subject is taboo. It is anything but that. This morning, we had a nice long talk. We learned things about him we didn’t know, she’s never shared. We thought we knew just about everything.

My heart broke again. For her.

I cried but I often do.

And she gave me one of her trademark hugs.

I’m lucky.

"Just Once"

Never before conceived; never desired and never done. Not by her. 

And she felt inexperienced. She was new to this. 

There weren’t many areas in her life where that could be claimed. She’d done pretty much everything that held her interest. She'd done a lot.

Whose idea had it been?

"Just once."

Spending only twenty-four hours with someone you’d “met” but not really “met” yet really needed to meet. Someone whom you felt you knew but didn’t because you'd never laid eyes on them before which is important in knowing, isn't it? 

The clock's pace seemed more rapid than normal, exceptionally so. What felt like only minutes, even seconds was hours. They sensed immediacy in every moment as time quickly ticked.

She said she’d always hated them, goodbyes. Possibly him too, yet he seemed okay and that’s exactly what she needed. 

They chose a quiet park for a last walk and the air felt wonderful; so fresh and exhilarating. What caused the goose bumps on their flesh; the slight chill or proximity of the other? Something passed between them, constantly; feeling equal parts magnetic and electric with an unimaginable, almost painful intensity. 

Arms encircling each other tightly, they alternated radiant hugs and shared heartbeats with long thorough gazes. Both trying to memorize and imprint every line, angle, lash, tooth, iris, freckle, bone, curve, muscle. Heartbeat. 

When their departure was imminent, her eyes brimmed and a solitary drop spilled. He quickly caught it with his lips just as it passed her cheekbone.

Agreeing to only one glance back and a wave, they smiled the biggest smiles they could knowing they’d both be okay. With that, they separated walking backwards for a few moments noticing no one else on the street. Spinning, she blew him a kiss and never turned around again. 

This never happened. And yet, maybe it did, only in their entirely separate minds. It couldn’t have happened any other way. 

Trifecta Writing Challenge: 33 to 333 words
NEW (adjective)

1: having recently come into existence

2 a (1) : having been seen, used, or known for a short time (2) : unfamiliar 

     b : being other than the former or old

3: having been in a relationship or condition but a short time <new to the job> <a new wife>