Michael's Story

Chapter 6

Cold weather persisted on Thursday. The gray, dreary skies were the result of the overcast conditions. A damp, earthy aroma was a warning that rain was on the way, and Junie arrived home just in time.

She cast her eyes skyward for what seemed like the thousandth time, praying that she could make it inside before the rain started. While she was halfway across the street, she spotted her neighbor Julian come out of the courtyard with a tall man.

There were never any secrets kept there. It was recently theorized that Julian was connected to high-ranking men that ran their city. It was difficult for Junie to accept, even though they were not close and she did not know him personally. Julian was always courteous and respectful whenever they crossed paths. He seemed like he would rather stay indoors than interact with others. When not on the basketball court, he was never seen with anyone but Travis.

Recently, she noticed that Julian was frequently taking rides in an unidentified black car. That's when she finally started to believe the rumor that everyone had been spreading. This car's passenger's identity remained hidden until today.

Their features became more distinct as she neared. Without hesitation, Junie looked at the mysterious stranger. As she stared at him, her pupils dilated. She started from the top, taking in the shine of his dark hair. His hair was neatly curled and fell in swoops on top of his head. His dark eyes were round and upturned, which were complemented by his heavy but well-shaped brows.

Junie was in a trance but couldn't tear her gaze away from him. Her eyes traced the outline of his taut jaw and prominent cheekbones before settling on his seductive lips. In appearance, he was strikingly beautiful.

She couldn't help but wonder, "If his face was that perfect, what did the rest of his body look like?" Moving downward, she made a note of his defined arms. For his torso, she imagined the definition because she couldn't see it through his plain shirt.

Her eyes glided back up and he was looking directly at her. Her heart skipped two beats and she needed to improvise. She pretended to stare at Julian instead.

There was a bright grin on Julian's face as he nodded in Junie's direction. Embarrassed that he spotted her staring, she smiled fakely. She brushed past them without even attempting to give them a second glance.

Michael entered the vehicle, followed shortly by Julian. Through the rear window, Michael watched Junie enter the building. Jorge started the car and began to drive away.

"What did you say her name was again?"He asked, keeping a close eye on her until she was out of sight.

"Junie," Julian replied.

"Junie." He repeated for his memory, facing forward.

"You should talk to her."Julian encouraged him.

Michael scoffed, "I don't shit where I eat."

"People know not to fuck with you." Julian reminded him.

"Most people do. But then, you got dickheads like Alejo running around." Michael said, "I can't afford that. If she didn't live here then maybe."

"So, just watch her every time you see her?"

"I'm not watching her." Michael denied.

"That's what it looks like to me," Julian said.

"You not as smart as you think you are." Michael joked.

Julian chuckled, "I know a little something."

"All you need to know is where Eric is." Michael changed the subject.

Julian shrugged, "Same thing. She don't know where he is and I believe her."

"You fucking with me, right?" Michael asked rhetorically.

"No.... She seems pissed, almost. Of course she covering for him saying she don't know what's going on but, I think he might've dipped without telling her for real." He said.

"Well, I don't know if I believe that." Michael admitted.

"But why didn't he take her with him?"

"Makes it more convincing." Michael said plainly.

"But doing that to a shorty you been with for years? You had a kid with?" Julian added.

"Even if she don't know where he is, she'll be the first person he'll call once he's good." Michael told him, "Keep checking her."

"You know I got it." Julian nodded.

"And I need you to do one more thing for me."

"What is it?"

"Next time this Alejo dude comes around, tell him to hit me up."

"You sure?"

"I think I know what he wants." Michael said.

*****

For her, he embodied every ideal of masculinity. The thought of him persisted in her mind even after she tried to forget him. Desire to learn more about him and develop a relationship with him consumed her. She sighed and sank back onto her bed, rolling her eyes at herself. At times, she despised her own mind.

She was sick with idealism, and it was the root of all her wildest dreams. Tess's techniques for regaining focus and focusing on the present moment helped her daydreaming subside for a while. Based on her research, she concluded that her social anxiety caused her to engage in maladaptive daydreaming. It was comforting to know she wasn't alone in this, but it hurt to realize her daydreaming was more of a problem than she'd like it to be.

As a coping mechanism and a means of escape, daydreaming was an important part of her life. She was able to fake a good mood even when she was feeling crappy. She would act as if she were someone else, perhaps one who had a better life. A newfound sense of optimism was born in her heart as a result.

She saw herself as the protagonist of her own love story, and the man from before was a near-identical twin of the ideal partner in her fantasies. As she considered the possibility of getting to know him, Junie smiled brightly. It crossed her mind whether he would be soft and gentle like her made-up lover, or rough and unfeeling like she figured most men were.

She squeezed her eyes shut as she realized she had been thinking too deeply. She heaved a deep sigh, cursing herself for failing to control her thoughts once again. She sat up on the edge of the bed.

"I don't know why I have to be so fucking obsessive." After a moment of silence, she moaned.

It was time for a new entry in her journal. Grabbing a pen from her nightstand, she reached under her pillow and retrieved her notebook. She made a new vow to herself: to be honest with Tess about her daydreaming. It would be challenging to open up about something she held sacred, but she knew that in order to heal, she needed to face her demons head-on.