Two Eyes Down: Nearsighted

Marco Pollo

I move next to Demi in bed with yet another coffee cup in my grasp while Demi's nimble fingertips sheltered the warmth in hers like it was the only fire in the forest. Soft music made of softer voices played quietly in the background from the Bose speaker. The only reason I could hear it was because of the very uncomfortable silence between the two of us. With every thigh sized crawl I take her eyes follow me like a spotlight. That spotlight isn't about the shining of an artificial sun but the dark side of the moon Demi is engulfed in. They drag across my face, painting her curiosity along the walls and knitting desire into the bedsheets. Her grim expression foreshadowed beginnings of things I didn't want to know the ending to.

We sit their, side by side with our backs on the sturdy headboard while drinking coffee that's too hot. Demi likes hers with just cream. According to her, it goes down smoother and the colour isn't so morbid. I like mine black, the darkness keeps me in focus and the bitterness nips my tastebuds as I swallow the liquid pins and needles. We both find interest in our feet, once tangled in the sheet and each other to keep warm. Now we force them to fight through the storm, cold and alone.

"Are we ever going to talk or are we going to drown ourselves in silence", Demi asks, watching me with a frown.

"Sometimes drowning in silence is better. It gives extreme actions a chance to come and inspire us to tread water".

"You can only tread water for so long-"

I look at Demi as she fades her words and blurs them into the background , glaring sombrely at the cup below her like she did at the diner. Lately, her chocolate eyes have been melting, falling to the ground as if Gravity was holding them hostage. She's been shrinking so there would be space between us and she'd have a better chance to get the fire extinguisher before I burned to a crisp after bursting into flames. My temper always keeps my temperature and her tension high. I bet if you sat me under the rope keeping her composure under wraps it would burn through and Demi would become a match in the night. With all the darkness there would be her running around while angrily yelling into the void about all the things she can no longer stand. I'd be the bonfire, big and steady, but not containing the energy to do anything that makes me burn so bright.

"Before energy has drowned itself before you. All that's left to do is, just, sink like an anchor in the ocean without a boat to keep company".

Demi looks up and into my eyes. Raw honestly takes ahold of her gaze and she takes our cups and carefully places them down on the nightstand beside her with the same gentleness that caress my hands afterwards. "Please tell me we're still talking about silence".

I smile, looking at the pretty black nails that twist and turn within my palms. I look into her eyes, which she quickly tries to dodge but I move wherever they go. "Please don't tell me you're trying to run away without moving".

Demi pushes her gaze back to me, her pupils growing, dancing as her head turns away from the light to look at me. She gives me a hairpin smile. One that creases her eyes and extends her cheeks. The night sky stream of freckles show in all their glory like the stars on a cloudless midnight. I can see the galaxy in her face. Her brown specks are the Milky Way, her eyes are stars, and her mouth is the great, beautiful beyond.

"I've been writing something for you", I say softly, as if my voice is running away from its purpose. Demi's head tilts slightly, her smile faltering until it gives way and curls down at the edges. She knows I didn't just say that to introduce a new topic. However, she's aware that pushing me right now could tear apart everything so she leaves it at a funny look and let's me carry on.

"What is it?", she asks.

"It's a poem", I smile again. I remove the paper from the bedside table beside me and take a deep breath. I wanted to write a song and sing it to her. However, a bad voice in A cappella only makes for two negatives. Therefore, I decided to stick to my strengths.