Stardust Romantics

Meet Me Halfway

I  loved  going to work  in the  architecture  firm,and    the  way  the  projects  made an  impact  . As   much  as  I  loved  the satisfaction that came ,with  working   on  socialy-engaging     projects,the  September  22nd  Car-Free  Festival  preparation, Ian  and  I  were  responsible  for carried a  diffferent  type of weight . Every year on or around 22 September, cities across the globe celebrate World Car-Free Day, encouraging motorists to give up their cars for a day. The event highlights the numerous benefits of going car-free to citizens—including reduced air pollution and the promotion of walking and cycling in a safer environment.

Car-free days were an opportunity for cities to highlight how congested roads can be used in different ways. From races for alternative-energy powered vehicles in Budapest, to horse-riding in São Paulo, to street picnics in Vienna, to running in Jakarta, cities and the people who live in them are stressing the alternatives to polluting vehicles on this important day.

To  me ,  it was an  opportunity to  get  out of  my   head and  channel    my  enegy  into  something  productive   instead   of   leaving a  cloud over  my   head  , over  a  jerk  that  not  only disrespected   me , but saw  me as a doormat.I wasn't 16 anymore  ,nor so easily swayed  or  forgiving.It was  my time  to  hussle and reinvent   myself.  Ian and  I  began   to  form  a connection,so  strong  it startled    me at the  begging . I  used  to detest  long  work  hours ,where  I'd  be  stuck with  him and  see no  furthger than  his over  the  top self-esteem.And then  ,there were    the  roumers   that  he was a  player and  heartbreaker.  Yet ,  he'd redeemed  himself . It was so  much  more. All  the secret  looks,the  way  he'd always  lift  me  up  and act  like  my biggest  fan .I was  dipping  my toes   in dangerouse  waters.He  was  a   buttled   up sunshine ,and a huge  name  in  Architecture ,something  like a  boss  to  me nonetheless.

All   of these  things were  true  ,and  risks.However ,truest   of all ,I wanted  no  longer to    be   at a  distance  from  him,  because   he  brought  up  the  best  in  me  ,with  that  same  intensity William  used  to prey  on   my insecurities. 

The   romance  between  us ,sparked  naturally .Ian  ticked all  the boxes,and was around when   it truely mattered  .I was   stepping  on thin  ice  in the beginninmg  ,but a  voice   in  the  back  of  my  head ,encouraged   me to  see   it  through.

William  was always  distant  when  it mattered , Ian    had  his  time   and space  and somehow   managed  to  be a  shoulder  for  me to   lean  on. Suddenly  I  was  overcome   with  a sudden   need to  keep him close to  me. 

Every time  ,I   pushed  him away ,  he'd  lean  in closer  , and for every toxic trade I'd   once  tolerated  in  William  , Ian  would  give   me   someting  to  smile about   for a week at  a time.

Honestly ,   he   was   in  for a   greater  challange  than    me ,since  it was  on  him to  heal  my   heart and  make  his way  through  the  decade   of disapointment   that   had scared    me  before   him. 

Me? I was  about  to   put  him   ,or anyone  else  for that  matter   through  a  series   of  tests  and always  think  twise  before   making a  step  forward. It  was  not  because I  wasn't  sexually  or emotionally  drawn  to  him,  rather  the   intenstity  of that  particullar attraction  , had taken  me  by surprise and  I wanted    it to work,  instead   of  being some  sort of   temporary  rebound.

I  decided to leave  whatever  this was  between  us,  unfold   at its  own  pace.

                                                                      * * *

It  was  my  first week  in  a  all -new  condo  and I  was   in  for a  few  surprises. Deadlines were  coming  along  and I  had  no time  to spare,  to   obsess  a  man  or  put    my  heart   on the line,so soon.

My  new  place was levels above ,the  first room and   I had yet to figure out some of the

"the subtleties of the neighborhood". For  example,  that  one time  when I  rushed  in  my  pijamas  and panda  slippers    mid-december , down  the  stairs ,to collect  my  mail  from California and ended    up,  locking  myself   outside. In  winter.Germany  was  frosty  in  October   in a way ,that    was  much  more suited  for December,and  I was   locked  outside. Splendid!

Another spacific   "charm ''  of  Gemany was  the  crappy    mail -service ,personalized   waste containers  for each  building with  a  lock and  key,  as well as the   habbit of  locals  to  leave   left-over  furniture  on  the  street ,for  the  taking.

With  nothing  but,  my  pijamas and cellphone  on  me ,I rested   for a  second  on the  mailbox,  trying to  make  up  a  plan of action.First  thing first, I  needed  to  contact    my landlord  and find somewhere to  cash ,while I waited.

Knocking on  4  doors  in a roll, I  found  myself facing  Aisha - a collegue  we    had    mostly a formal  relationship  ,than   friendship.

"I  am  sorry to wake  you  up"  I  nerveously   meddled  with my  hair.Self-aware as   I was,it  did  not  go  pass   me  ,that I  probably  looked like  the lead  of a   hit  horror   movie.

"Oh ,hey Clara! I wasn't xpecting  you, but comeon  in?How did  you end up  on my doorstep ?"

I blushed. 

"I   locked  myself    out  of  my  condo  and was  wondering  if you  could  give   me a  hand?"

She  smirked.

"Oh! I wish I could ,but  unfortunately   my  language skills  are  unreliable. Is  there anyone  else,you can  ask?" 

Her  body language  was so  evidently  irrotated,  it  made me uncomfortable.

"Yes, as a   matter  of  fact  I  do."  Without uttering another word , I  rushed  to  leave.

Janet Anisko   ,was  my soul sister, out  her. I  fet  my way to  the  building two  blocks  down , through  the underground  tunnels  connecting the  buildings  to each  other ,with  the  shared   kitchen.  Without  missing a   single  detail  ,I  found  myself  feeling like I'd stepped   into  a castle   dungen.

Janet  welcomed  me with ipen  arms ,  tilting   her   head to  one side  ,that  first   moment.

I  gave her the quick  version  of event  ,over  tea  and  breakfast , aonly to realize there was  more depth  to  her ,than  I first figured.
Apperantly ,  we   bonded   over  Model  UN  and  politically  oriented   non- profits.She   managed a  organization  of  her own  , centered  arond  creating a cause  similar to  mine and  Ian's -  creating  a  field  for  artists  and  inovators  .Together  ,we   brainstormed    how  I could  contribute  ,concidering  my  landlord  would  be  coming over after 14h,with  the  spare  key,which  gave   us  plenty  of time  to catch up.

Janet   let   me  in   on  chapters    of  her  story  very  few people saw  ans  apreciated.As soon as I entered, I noticed the violin first among the rest of the decor of potted plants,pastels,international flags and semi-precious crystals.

"Do  you play?"

"Sort  of.I  play to  help   out with  the  bills.Playing in the subways in Berlin oneonce a week. Although it is no longer necessary for me or my family. Actually, this wild orchid here, it's minea gift from a passer-by who heard me play."

I  had  never  felt  so  greatful  to  know  someone ,as  I  did   in that   moment.

"I  had  to  come  here  ,to  rewrite  my story,reinvent   myself  ,standing   in the road  between who I  left  behind  and who  I  have the  potential to  be.''

"Just listen to  your  heart when  you do."

Closing  my  eyes  ,I  startled  because  instead    of William,   it was  Ian's  warm  smile   that  appeared before  me.

That was   the   moment ,I   knew...