The Experience of Loving You

One

ONE

November

Loud. At two in the morning. LOUD AT TWO IN THE MORNING. Is all that I could think about, now don't get it wrong I also enjoyed listening to Mr. Brightside but not when I was trying to sleep because I had to be up at five am for work tomorrow. As much as I tried to ignore it and sleep I couldn't, so I did the next best thing. I got up with the specific goal in mind to be as kind as one can be at two in the morning. Living in a duplex seemed like a good idea at first. A two-story two-bedroom Victorian-style home with a beautiful front yard within my price range, with a bay window! It was a dream come true. If only I knew then that the fatal flaw would be that I would have to wake up at two in the morning on Wednesdays to tell my neighbor to turn his music down. Is that an exaggeration? Yes, a bit but realistically speaking it happens way more often than it should happen to a normal person. Besides, who even has parties on Tuesdays or Wednesdays? I was bothered. Walking out of the door I looked over at my neighbor's house assessing the situation. I noticed a few people scattered on the front yard which suddenly made me self-conscious about my way too short sleeping shorts and faded Aerosmith t-shirt. As I walked up the steps to the closed door I noticed people staring at me. I acted as if I was unaware of their eyes on me and rang the doorbell so many times I could have broken it. Someone came to the door drink in hand. He was fairly good-looking with jet black hair and forest green eyes. He looked me up and down and smirked.

"Here for the party?" he asked, further examining my outfit and hair. Focusing for a few seconds too long on the sponegbob pimple patch I had on my chin.

I rolled my eyes, "Unless this suddenly became a slumber party, I don't think I am dressed for the occasion." I answered sarcastically.

He laughed loudly, "We can have a sleepover at my place if you'd like. The only rule is no clothes allowed."

It was my turn to laugh this time. "Does that seriously work?"

He looked me up and down once more way too slowly this time, "First time trying it, want to give me feedback?"

"Oh, a full review. On a scale of one to five stars, I would give you zero. Would not recommend it. I think if you plan to have some company then I don't think you should start that way unless you plan to get someone that will leave you wondering whether you have the syphs."

He looked at me once more and then laughed even harder, "I like you."

I smiled sarcastically, "Would say ditto but I like to pride myself on my honesty. Now seeing as you asked me to go to your place I am assuming that this is not your place, where is the owner?"

"Ollie. I am not sure, who's asking?"

"A very annoyed neighbor that needs to be up at five am for work but can't when Blink-182 is screaming in her ear. Can you just please put the music down a bit. Enough for my instrumental version of Turning Page to tune it out. I don't think I have time to wait for the ever-exciting Ollie, I have already been here longer than I wanted to. Nice convo and keep my review in mind." I waved goodbye as I headed back home not bothering to see if he had anything else left to say. What else could he have left to say?

Oliver

I looked at her from the window as she walked away. I had no idea that's how my neighbor looked. I always figured it was some old lady with cats that never left her house. Mostly because I never saw anyone come out of there.

"What's her name? I need to talk to her again." asked his friend Harrison, the one who had answered the door as he grabbed his drink from the table and took a sip eyeing the now empty path leading to her house. I shrugged. 

"How should I know up until now I thought she was some 65-year-old woman that owned about a million cats, granted I never saw any cats come in and out of that residence." I found myself staring at the fence gate she left open. What was her name?

—-----

How did you meet him?

I think I was about 23 in university, I was dead-set on my studies and swore up and down that I would never end up in a relationship they were simply a waste of time. I wanted to be a doctor I had no time to spare the attention to another person that I could be fully giving to my assignments. Then I saw her, it looked like she was glowing. She smiled and I wished nothing more than to see her smile every day of my life. Lucky for me I get to do that every day. Even now after 25 years of being together I still feel myself falling in love all over again.

Kurt&Jenny