Corner Mellifluous

that little corner where she was

"Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends." -Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking

•••

It was nice when we glanced at each other.

She was beautiful, I don't try to obscure it for it was so obvious. I won't try to create a what-so-ever poem full of words from the Middle-Ages just to show I am too darn adept. Without much ado about words, she was simply, just beautiful. Oh, you like detail? Well, she was the rosemaling stitch on an old wretched wardrobe, the only light bulb you might be using to study for your physics test, and the plain pillow you sleep on at night. Or better yet, she was your smartphone.

I hope that helped you.

The night before Valentine's was the night the Fates had decided to ruin my life by making me get my legs to walk all the way to a. . .well, bar. Which I can assure you that I was about to regret. I was about to. Until.

She was almost asleep, it was a really small quiet corner at the end of the room, away from the hustle. She was the only female in the room and it was enough to make me wonder more. She looked pretty with her brown tresses over her closed eyes, and not going to lie, I had for a split second thought we might actually get married. Hey, you don't see a beautiful girl in a bar everyday.

But she still looked asleep. And I was afraid.

Afraid of what? I had no idea. But I didn't dare come closer. I couldn't just wake her up and begin blurting out questions. I was a coward.

One hell of a coward.

I sat on a table with a fine distance from hers, one that I could see her from, but hopefully not one she can see me from. And I think I should've thanked the guy covering me. (Thank you, random person.) The rest of the time was only me glancing at her from time to time. She was always in the same position--a cosplay of Sleeping Beauty with a modern twist and a round table instead of a royal bed.

I was waiting for the moment when she would lift her little head and at least show her eyes before I leave. I didn't order anything. Instead I just sat there holding a crumbled tissue.

I wondered why didn't the manager of this place just kick her out, or why was she asleep with no visible finished drink beside her. Like, she was simply asleep in a bar. That's not something I would be able to do some day.

Yet, a few moments later, I caught her stretching slowly.

I tried looking at her from the corner of my eye and saw her face being lifted slowly, slowly up. Her eyes were shut and her small lips were pursed, probably stifling a yawn. It was like she'd been on a Queen bed.

She opened her eyes and for a moment she looked confused. I couldn't see the color of her eyes or I would've said them, but I knew they were looking at me, while I was absentmindedly staring at them.

I got back to my senses and tried to act neutral (which, for your information, pretty much sucked). I didn't know if she was still looking at me, but I didn't glance to make sure, as much as I was tempted to do. It would be too awkward, and I couldn't stand yet more awkwardness for the rest of the night. As you might have guessed next, I simply left the table, knowing hopefully I won't find her here again.

.

It was ringing midnight when I reached the door knop.

By then, I was shivering from a harsh February snow storm that chased me all the way there, I knew my lips would be blue and my nose was freezing I couldn't bear inhaling anymore air. If that wasn't enough, the midnight ring had announced it was officially Valentine's Day, and I kind of had nobody to celebrate it with.