At First Sight

Touch

This evening was hot and humid. It wasn't a normal evening for Chicago, a city usually overly windy or pouring with rain. It was well past Summer and the Fall evening was almost romantic. Michael stood in his apartment, his azure gaze cast out over the lightly rippling river below. The sun had just begun to set, its last rays of warmth lighting his face, casting a shadow across his flooring. With the setting of the sun died Michael's hope that she would come.

A tiny knock at the door made him smile when he realised she had come. He padded barefoot across his floor, his slightly nervously sweaty feet sticking briefly to the laminate. He peered through the spy hole to catch her absently searching the hallway for any indication of the apartments occupant. As she turned her back to him, he turned the knob and opened the door.

She spun on her heels, her faced full of anticipation, nerves and shyness. Michael's gaze met hers as a long silence between them ensued. Her mouth hung slightly open, her beautifully shaped mouth slightly moist. Her wide eyes looked him up and down, drinking in his presence. She noted he was wearing a blue shirt, sleeved rolled up to his elbows, black pressed slacks and a silk tie hung loosely around his collar. Also, he was barefoot.

She extended a hand but remained fixed to the spot. Michael met her hand half way and heat exploded in their hands as they touched ever so lightly. "Dr. Tancredi" he greeted her like they had known each other for years. She was a little taken back that he knew her name before he flashed her a relaxing smile.

"Call me Sara" she smiled back, their hands lingering together longer then they needed to. Neither wanted to let go as their eyes danced in the brightly lit hallway.

"Sara" he repeated, almost a whisper. Her name was as beautiful as she was, and she shied away under his words, taking her hand from the security of his warm touch. Sara cleared her throat, a tiny cough escaping her lips as she averted her eyes to the floor.

She knew he had known her name. It was printed in block capitals on her ID card. SARA TANCREDI, MD. Inwardly she smirked to herself before remembering why she had come here. "The restaurant said you had my ID card" her eyebrows pulled together at her brow as if she was trying to think of something else to say. As she looked back to him, Michael pulled his smooth hands from his pocket, the card coming into view.

"You dropped it in the restaurant" he handed her the card, stepping out into the hallway, pulling them closer together. Sara neither moved nor reacted to his advance, simply reaching out her hand to take her card. Their hands touched lightly once more, sparks of invisible electricity jumping between them. The card was warm from his pocket and Sara felt instantly embarrassed by her photograph staring back at her from their hands. Retracting his hand, Michael placed it back into his pocket.

He smiled as Sara stared at him with a furrowed brow. His smile cracked into a light laugh when he asked, "What?" his mouth lingering open and his hot breath heating the already humid air between them. Sara let out a little laugh back before she answered, "It's nothing" shaking her head and taking a step back. "I should go" she needed to make a quick escape before he melted her with any more laughter. She turned full circle and dragged her feet along the corridor, not wanting to leave. "Thank you" she called behind her, her eyes fixed on the silvery elevator doors before her.

Michael watched her go, observing her reluctance. "I'm Michael by the way" he called cheerfully after her, causing her to turn to him and begin walking backwards.

"Michael" she mimicked his earlier whisper, testing his name on her tongue. She beamed a smile at him, and received one in return as they grew further and further apart down the hall. She reached out to call the elevator, pressing her finger into the clear, marbled button. She could feel his eyes penetrating her as she waited, knowing he was still there, just like he had been in the restaurant. She dipped her head low and gave herself a grin, interrupted only by the ding of the elevator arrival.

She stepped into the mechanical box and as she turned to face the button panel she caught him out of the corner of her eye watching her. She pressed the ground floor button and the doors jolted, pulling themselves together slowly. She stepped to the centre of the elevator and caught his stare once more. "See you around" she told him as they sealed shut.

Michael felt that lump in his throat again as he recalled her touch, her voice, her smell. Her everything. She was perfect, in every way. Even her imperfections, which Michael doubted she even had, would be perfect. As he stepped back into his apartment a familiar yet unpractised smile crept across his lips. He closed his door with a soft clicking noise and lent his broad shoulder back against the hardwood panel.

"See you around" he confirmed to himself.