Pushing that thought aside I head
to my usual spot in the Teashop, which is empty and I breathe a sigh of relief.
I don’t glance around to see if anyone else is there but keep my sights set on my
out of the way spot. If there are people here I wonder what they think when
they look at me. I don’t want it to bother me and yet it always does. It’s not
so much as people, as men who really have my concern. All I see is men being
friendly on the outside, but running away from a raging herd of wildebeest on
the inside. This is how I see myself - true beast.
My appearance? I can just imagine
how I look. I don’t need a mirror. I’ve seen it time and time again, through
eyes the colour of mud slime.. There are times where I try to dress
sophisticated or hot but seem to fall short. My mud dark hair with its little Medusa
strands are probably ready to strike anyone who comes too close. Body size? After
lacking in model perfection and height closely resemble a mix between the
Michelin Man and the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man.
Who or what could I blame? Genes?
A lack of self confidence or stress? An evil spell cast on me by a vengeful
sorceress? At least spells could be broken.
A headache is forming. This isn’t worth
thinking about. I have thought about it so many times it couldn’t continue. I
would have to accept the fact that I might be single for the rest of my life
and Valentine’s Day would, in fact, be just another day. The only thing now was
to carry out this pronouncement.
I unloaded my greasy, fingerprinted laptop
that my best efforts never managed to stay clean. Mae stopped at the table to
ask if I wanted my usual. I smiled at The Teashop owner and nodded. In less
than a minute she brought out my pink wreathed Coalport teaset steaming hot
with honeysuckle and camomile tea. If truth be told she most likely had it
ready. I thank her then sit down.
The fragrance of the steeping tea relaxes me
and the headache that once was brewing eased. Focus on my writing is what I
need right now. I poured my tea as my laptop warmed up. Closing my eyes I
settle back against the chair. The first lip burning sip is delicious. A
heavenly warmth spreads through my body. I smile at this simple pleasure
forgetting all about the world and its sickness called love.
I open my eyes to survey my
surroundings, actually not my surroundings, I could tell you exactly what went
where and if something had been moved. What I was really surveying is what I
couldn’t do when I first entered the teashop; see who else was here. Table
after table was empty until I came to the mahogany table by the window. A man
sat, with legs stretched, out blatantly staring at me.
A man sat, with legs stretched
out, blatantly staring at me. His sun hued hair glowed like a halo in the light
cascading from the windows. Sapphire eyes, above a radiant smile, bore deeply
into mine drawing me in.
Despite the magnetic pull I found the strength
to snatch my gaze away. I made eye contact with Mae, who had the cliché ‘from
ear to ear’, grin. What secret was she hiding? Then I looked back to the man.
He was no longer sitting at the window. At his full height he surpassed my 5’3”
with ease. I watched as he walked with grace and confidence toward me the same
smile never leaving his face. This godlike man couldn’t possibly be coming
toward me?
Oh My Gosh he was!
I put my teacup down, my nervous
fingers almost spilling the contents. I bit my lip at this exhibition of
nervousness. Cursing inwardly and all I could do is pretend to write. What came
out on the screen resembled a two year old pushing wildly at the keys. There
was no stopping my fingers. I risked a glance up and had to tilt my head way
back to look at this man. My stomach fluttered and I had to gulp to keep the
butterflies from escaping. He seemed to smile wider at my nervousness. And
despite my nerves I smiled back.
“Good evening,” his voice was
deep and angelic. “May I join you?” I nodded not taking my eyes from his as he
sat down smoothly in the seat across from me. In his eyes I saw a future full
of love.
