SWEET NOTHINGS - S. LILLIS

"do i make you feel?"

the next dance we had together was impromptu. we had spent the entire day inside while the rain beyond us pummeled the windows, creating a symphony of trickles and taps. it was quite nice, really, but sophia wasn't satisfied. she took it upon herself to sift through the collection of records i kept on hand, finally settling on what she knew was my personal favorite, a matchbox twenty album i had harbored for years and years. as the vinyl began to dance in circles, she prompted me to as well.
"c'mon, oakley jane. be cliché and dance with me." how could i say no? she swept me into her arms and gently twirled me around the hardwood floors of my bedroom, our sock clad feet pattering softly as we moved. she told me the rain made her feel beautiful, and it made her want to move. and looking at her in that moment, i believed her.
"and in her color portrait world she believes that she's got it all," the record sang, and i really did believe so. the tall, pretty redhead i held close to me was everything i knew i wanted, but could never have. but she was enough. boy, was she ever.
when she had finished dancing, she sat me down on the bed and looked me in the eyes, a serious look on her face. i had never seen her look so solemn, even when she would talk to me about things in hushed, shaky tones.
"do i make you feel anything?" i was stunned, and confused.
"what do you mean?"
"like, the rain makes me feel, and so does the sun, and the color blue, and you. but you, you just sit and watch, and listen. do i make you feel?" i nodded. i didn't know how to tell her that she made me feel like i was flying. "then show me." so i did, the only way i knew how. i kissed sophia lillis. and she made me feel like everything and nothing all at once.

-oakley