Conversations From Afar

29 / watercolour

I wait for Ellis by the bench, legs pulled up to my chest and my chin resting between my knees. My chest feels empty and gaping again; it's exceedingly unpleasant.

He winds around the corner in holey skinny jeans, and his mustard boots with a smile. A surge of affection fills the hole in my chest for a second.

"Hey, stranger!" He sits beside me, setting his man purse on his lap. He taps my knee when I don't reply.

"Hi."

"Awe, you're all depressed again?"

"Just a bit...sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry for, except perhaps for ignoring me all weekend because your boyfriend came home. That wasn't very nice." His voice is mock-chiding and pleasant. I giggle. "Anyway, I have a late birthday present for you."

"Really?"

"Mm." He unearths a manila envelope from his bag and passes it to me with theatrical flair. I slide a finger beneath the flap without cutting myself.

Inside, is heavy white paper covered in watercolour paint.

A boy and a girl, standing together with a duffle bag at their feet. They hug, and there's something so profound in it, that my heart hurts. It's us.

"Ellis."

"Do you like it? I'm not sure  how accurate the proportions are, it was from memory and I was trying out water colour so it probably sucks but I just had to, you guys were so raw and real and beautiful it was like woah, I have to draw them so I did, I hope you don't mind..."

"It's perfect." I'm not crying, but my throat feels full of cotton balls and my heart feels heavy in my chest.

I reach over and wrap my arms around his shoulders. He's skinny in that strong way and wearing a heavy cardigan over a t-shirt.

He pat my back, a little awkward but mostly surprised. He chuckles. "Well, I'm glad you like it."

*******
So it's 2016. Woohoo. If you actually went to a banger (hahahah smh) or clubbing or something, cool. If you stayed at home w your friend or a book thas cool too. I learned racist swiss-German slang and ate fishies dipped in peanut butter from my purse.

Lucas DiPasquale heart eyes