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.
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>
