VISCOSITY

It doesn’t matter who you were yesterday or even who you will be tomorrow. If the world spun away before the dawn would you have been everything you ever wanted? Just you. Not the employee or the spouse, not even the perfect child. You, the grown up-all in version of you. Was it accomplished? 

You’re getting tipsy she chastised herself, still pleased with the way he looked at her, the way his focus had met hers. A long-lost person of interest. Maybe they already knew each other. Damn! What if they did, she scrambled to find his name as he approached. Embarrassed, she turned away hoping he would slow his gait. He was attractive and she was just a last-minute tagalong added to a carload of friends. She did not want to let him get away. She knocked back the shot she had been nursing then whipped around determined to meet him. He was gone. Not lost in the crowd, she had zeroed in on him, so focused that everything else blurred. She was not the only dateless wonder here tonight. It was the desperate last dance of the old year. Even the uptight folks professed to kissing somebody at midnight. She wanted him! At least she thought so. What could you really know about a stranger across the room or even someone you spent hours with online? Or even worse, the person you lived with that screwed around on you with your best friend which left you with nothing. Absolute zero. No friend, no lover… damn I think I really am a little bit buzzy she confessed to herself. And there he was. And oh, hell he was gorgeous. She almost turned away again, the alcohol making her simultaneously flirty and self-conscious. Was her breathe okay; it wasn’t close to midnight yet but he might want a trial run so he could weigh “ 

his options. He defiantly had options, look at him!  

“Hello”. 

“Clarice. Oh jeez!” she turned away as flames crept up her skin. She wanted to scream. Stupid, stupid, STUPID! 

“Your name is Clarice? I’m Bradley” he smiled. 

“I’m Elle, not Clarice. I…it’s a joke with my friends. Hannibal Lecter, hello Clarice. Oh, never mind. It’s, we’re…” she looked at his shoes, shaking her head to clear it. “Hello, I’m Elle. My friends dragged me here and I’ve been drinking more than I’m used to. Nice to meet you”. 

He grinned, “Are you always this forthright? 

“Probably, yes. It was nice to meet you” she decided slinking away immediately was the best idea. 

“Hey Elle, would you like to dance or get another drink? Or at least not run away so fast?” He was smiling. Weird, she was weird. Why wasn’t he just calling it good and walking away? He would not have to scrounge the place for some new year’s peace on earth. “Come on” he nodded towards the floor. She raised an eyebrow at her friends already dancing. Shrugs and smiles were returned. Before she could find her footing, he spun her ‘round and pulled her thisclose. The possibilities of an interesting evening were in his laugh. 

They found a less frenzied spot off the dance floor so they could talk. “Were you dragged here too?’ she asked. 

“No. Actually I was here to support a charity over the weekend. Some friends and I decided to check out an art show, see some sights. My plane left yesterday, but they overbooked the plane with holiday travelers and decided to rectify that by shifting people to later flights. Of course, nobody wanted to sit around at the airport, but when they offered hotel vouchers and a little cash a few people took them. They were able to fly out this morning. Room for all except one, so again they asked for a volunteer. I wasn’t in a hurry so… here I am”. 

“You got knocked off two flights? And you’re not mad about it?” she asked thinking most people would be. 

“I was taking the week off anyway. Just going to laze around the house for a few days. Figured I could do that here, but I wasn’t thinking about New Year’s Eve. When I read the newspaper this morning, I saw the part announcement and figured why not! I don’t know anybody here, so I took the gamble and lo, I met an angel”. 

“Does that work where you’re from?” she asked wryly. 

“Not in a million years” he said laughing. At least I don’t think so. Hmm…hahaha, right? No. I saw you looking bored and a little bit out of place. That’s about the same as I was feeling. I was thinking about leaving. Maybe hit the hotel gym, kill some time in the steam shower and see if I could stay awake until midnight. Tradition, you know. I saw you and figured why not at least try to strike up a local conversation before I leave”. 

“You’re talking to me because you think I’m local?” 

“Well, if you’re not then I better just move along. Nice to meet you and all that. Have a lovely night” he waved and turned away leaving her momentarily shocked. He kept turning until he was facing her again. “Jeez lady, are you always this icy?” but he was grinning. She had a strong urge to smack him. “Would you like to dance again, maybe get acquainted? Two non-locals seeing the sights alone together. Alone”. 

“You’re so goofy! No wonder…” 

“No wonder what?” he asked. 

“Nothing you rogue” but to herself, no wonder you’re here alone. You are gorgeous, but odd. 

“Come on now, I told you my story. What’s with you? Why are you here in the company of friends?” 

“Because recently I lost one-hundred and thirty pounds”. 

He raised a skeptical eye, gave her a quick once-over without undressing her. “Well, I can’t imagine that, but I have to say you look damn good to me”. 

She could feel her face flush but laughed at her own joke. “I broke up with my significant other. All one-hundred and thirty pounds. Good-bye”. 

“Oh. Sorry. I can be slow, I guess. Hopefully, it was amicable”. 

“She’s a cheating heifer and I had to break our lease. Other than that, yep. Totally amicable”. He half-smiled, finally at a loss for words. They stood there, her eyes moving across the room looking for familiar faces. When she spied her friends, they were giving her encouraging nods. She loved them, but they looked ridiculous with only their chins bobbing in and out on the dance floor. She shrugged and turned back to see him grabbing a couple of pilsners from a server. 

“You’re welcome to a beer” he said handing it over. “If there’s tears in your beer that’s okay by me. I’m not here for a long time, but I am here right now and so are you. We can dance or talk, or I can go away. It’s all up to you tonight. Okay?” She smiled with only a trace of sadness seeping through. 

“Okay. Let’s kill these beers first”. They danced. They laughed. She found herself having fun. It was well before midnight when they both decided they’d had enough of the crowd. All they wanted was to be alone. Together. 

To feel so alive without guilt was foreign to her. Passion and spontaneity were not part of her upbringing, but tonight she was going to live for herself. She wasn’t careless, she wasn’t risky. They protected themselves as they should, without slowing the lustful momentum devouring them. For one night they indulged in everything they had thought of as too far. Softly spoken words of love, deep growls of pleasure, the entire oeuvre of hunger given over to the viscosity of now. There was no holding back, no fear of tomorrow.  

They agreed it had been a most perfect night. “Let’s not ever ruin it, she said. Let’s never look each other up and chance killing this memory. You’ll be the best dream I’ve ever had”. 

“You’re sure? he asked, but without doubt. It had been an amazing, one of a kind night for him too. 

“Promise me! she said fiercely. Promise me we’ll let this stand exactly how it is. Both of us!” He agreed they would. 

She was ready to go. Who knew a rebound could last just one night? He made her happy, she would keep the memories of him tucked deep into her heart, but she had no desire to chase him down. 

She felt free and decided she liked the feeling. Still, she wanted him to remember her, so she left a note on the side table as she stepped lightly out the door. The note read: 

I hope everything you touch reminds you of me. When you drink your morning coffee, I hope you feel the warmth of my kiss. When you touch the buttons on your shirt, I hope you remember my fingertips across your chest. When you slide your jeans on, I hope it reminds you of me sliding them down. When you comb your hair, I hope you feel my fingers. And everything that touches you, let that remind you too. If you get a splinter, feel my nails down your back. When your hot-sauce bites you remember that I did too. While you shower, while the hot water splashes your skin remember what you made my body do. I hope you always remember me.  

And he did.