Querencia

A CHANCE ENCOUNTER

"Do you know Plato's theories on love?"

My breath hitched when Nick's eyes settled on me, lids still heavy. They were mismatched, and it was something I hadn't noticed before (but I had never been this close before, either). This was like the small imperfection that renders someone perfect, and I blinked a few times before remembering the question asked.

"Like platonic love? I mean it's cool. I like platonic love, but it's not exactly what I'd ever want for us." I wrinkled my nose. "I-if ever there is a chance," I quickly added.

Nick laughed softly. "There's a difference between platonic love and Platonic love. Our modern definition is somewhat over-simplified."

"Tell me about it," I whispered. When Nick spoke like that, I found it hard to keep my mind or my breathing steady. It made me feel heady, like the words took me to someplace high where the oxygen was less.

"The Divine Eros can begin with a love for the physical form, but it transcends physical pleasure. Through gradual development, love becomes a recognition of True Beauty."

"I don't really know what it all means," I said, "a lot of philosophy goes over my head." I didn't feel embarrassed admitting it to Nick, because I knew that a part of Nick enjoyed explaining things to me.

"It takes a lot of understanding of Platonic concepts." Nick shrugged, and he moved a little closer to me now. "I'll tell you about them some other time."

Some other time. That addition made my heart skip a beat. The thought of sharing my mind with Nick, but more importantly getting to hear the intricacies of Nick's mind, was alluring beyond imagination.

"Plato got a lot wrong about love," Nick continued, "he didn't understand that the Vulgar and the Divine can co-exist. That the carnal can meet the pure."

I turned towards him. Our faces were millimetres apart.

"Plato's Eros is inherently selfish, and I'll never be selfish with the one I love. Sexuality isn't only about taking for yourself. He was so wrong about that."

"It's so sexy listening to you shut down Plato." I smiled. "I bet you could take him in a debate."

"I like to think so. Similarly, divine love doesn't need to be distinct from physical attraction. Don't you think?"

There was silence. Nick filled it by grazing his hand over my arm and then squeezing my shoulder. When he withdrew his hand, I cleared my throat. I felt brave with Nick all around me. Before I could say something, the bus came to a halt.

We both were jolted off the bubble we had built around us. "Come on, let's go." Nick stood, offering his hand.

I held it graciously, and we both walked up to the exit door.

We were dropped off in a quaint little town, the cobbled streets bustling with pedestrians.

I felt Nick scruple beside me, as if his mind was vacillating between thoughts.

"Are you okay?" I inquired.

"I'm just not used to being around a lot of people. I don't go out much."

"Is this my lucky day then? Getting to meet you?" I proffered.

Nick laughed. I liked making him laugh. "We don't know that yet."

I forced my face back into a straight shape. "Not even a book shop?"

Nick nodded. "I used to prowl the aisles," he said. "There was a lovely shop, not too far from my house, but unfortunately it has closed down now. They've replaced it with a big chain coffee shop. I used to sit and read there. These days, I prefer to order online. The books arrive before the end of the day, and I don't have to go out in order to receive them. As far as I'm concerned, the biggest success of our generation is the advent of internet shopping. It favours the introverted, like me."