You, him, us | Andrew Garfield + Barry Keoghan

Chapter 1

I remember every detail of the day I met you, if I close my eyes I can go back there right now. I feel the warm sun on my body but not on my face, the grass stings my skin under the towel spread on the floor, I don't see anything because my face is covered by a hat I bought at a thrift store for 2,85. It was the first sunny day of summer, my whole body radiated relief and lightness with the break in the rainy days of last spring, the air smelled of freshly cut grass, churros and beer splash from the group sitting closest to me. The other day I read on the internet that the pleasant smell of mown grass is actually a defense mechanism for cutting aggression, but that day I didn't know it, my joy was genuine and undisturbed. Until a furry shape pounced on top of me and left me breathless.

"What the..."

I stand up in fright and drop my hat to see what hit me. I'm face to face with a huge dog that doesn't waste time, snatches the hat from my lap with his mouth, and runs away from me before I can understand what's going on. I look at the animal bouncing around with my Park Road find in its mouth, as if it's found a treasure, I can only imagine the disbelieving face I'm making. A couple to my right chuckles quietly at what happened, and I'm torn between asking what's so funny and laughing too.

Someone stops right in front of me, covering the sun with their body, and hands me the hat, now damp with dog drool and a little crooked around the edges. I move my head to try to see their face, but the effect of the light blinds me. I assume they own the dog and am I'm ready to start complaining about unleashed dangerous dogs etc.

"You'll forgive me, will you?", they ask as I accept the hat. "He's just a big baby."

As if sensing that someone was talking about him, the German Shepherd comes dancing and stops beside the stranger, who bends down to pat the dog's ear.

"Big big baby, aren't you?", they speak with a voice that normally people only use with babies and cute animals. "But we need to apologize to the lady, Koda."

The dog licks its owner's hand and sits more well behaved than ever, with its tongue hanging out. Now I can see the their face. They have blue eyes, very blue, and I feel invaded, like they could read every thought I've ever had in my life. They don't look at me, they still have eyes only for Koda, so I take this opportunity to investigate a little longer. Their smile forms such a deep dimple in their cheek that it can only mean that they smile all the time, which they really did since they approached me. They seem to be in no hurry to be forgiven, their pleasure was to be there being observed while showing affection for the dog. I swallow, feeling the movement of my tongue, than the pharynx, listening to the sound my body makes just to produce this simple movement.

"Koda, you're forgiven", I offer my hand to him, who sniffs it with excitement and then licks it. I feel like I've passed a test, but I'm not sure what kind. "But not your owner."

Indifferent to my scolding tone, perhaps because I'd been nice to the dog, they turn to me, chin resting on entwined fingers. Their face twists into a grimace, one eyebrow raised, and they smile again, more subdued this time, as if they have solved a mystery.

"My name is Gael. And you?"

As they speak, their smile breaks and the dimple appears again, lingering down the side of his face.

"Cecilia," I say after an eternity, or at least it seems that way to me.

"It's a pleasure, Cecilia. I will pay for the hat. I'm really sorry."

I look at the half-flat accessory in my lap and sigh.

"Nevermind. It was cheap, not even worth it."

You look around, then sit down on the grass in a fussy way and pat Koda's flank affectionately.