Loneliness and Reconciliation (Short Story; Complete)

Chapter 3

"Actually, yes," Seth replied. "That was fucking terrifying."

"But, worth it?" Tristana suggested as she slowly twirled herself away from him. The band had stopped playing, the audience was clapping enthusiastically, and the multi-colored dance floor lights highlighted beads of sweat on Tristana's face, neck, and arms so that her body glowed radiantly. Only once she had moved away from him did Seth realize that the mixture of her perfume and natural scent smelled of summer flowers.

"Completely," he replied, dumbfounded.

Tristana smiled beatifically and laced her hands around Seth's neck. Even though the song that had just started was quicker than a slow dance was appropriate for, the intimacy of the moment made it feel completely natural.

"So..." Tristana began. "What do you do in your spare time, Seth?"

Seth was having a hard time keeping his blood above the equator. "I... uh... like to... walk?"

Tristana giggled wholeheartedly. "A real nature boy. I like it. Do you ever go to the mountains?"

"I've never really been... Never had anyone to go with, and I was afraid I would die out in the wilderness by myself." Maybe I should have done that instead of jumping in the river. Then I would have never met Damon... but I wouldn't be here either.

"Are you ok?" Tristana asked. "You got distant all of a sudden."

"Yeah... I...," Seth shook the darkness out of his head. "Things have been pretty hard lately. I've had a hard time just finding reasons to... stay alive. N-not that being here isn't one, believe me... It's just that I... I guess I had given up."

"It's hard not to," Tristana agreed. "There's so much in the world that is painful. And it can be hard to trust in anything good again," she added as she tucked her head under his chin. She was short enough that even though Seth was of average height, she fit comfortably in his embrace. "Like this. To tell you the truth, it's been a while for me too. I was in a relationship for years. And then he just left, without a word. He didn't even take all of his stuff. And it messed with me for the longest time. Felt like I wasn't even good enough to say goodbye to, or to be given an explanation. But we are more than what others think of us. Infinitely more, if we let ourselves be."

Seth didn't exactly know what she meant by that, but he was just grateful to be in contact with her, to hold and dance with such a delicate, strong, vulnerable, and resilient creature that wanted nothing more to love and be loved.

Just like me.

Several songs came and went. People hooted, cheered, drank, sang, and cavorted around the two of them, and Seth barely noticed. The two of them had found their own rhythm to a gentle melody they made together in the slow cadence of their steps and the gentle way they held one another with care and affection. The darkness that had once strangled Seth's emotions and drowned his hopes slowly relaxed its grip in the quiet tranquility of their dance.

***

Seth suddenly remembered that they hadn't come here alone. "Hey, shouldn't we go find Damon and your friends?"

"Hmm?" Tristana mumbled hazily. "Oh. Yeah, I guess."

There weren't many people left on the dance floor, so they returned to their table easily to find Damon, Sara, and Alanna were no longer there.

"Of course, he's gone," Seth muttered to himself. Not that I blame him... There was money underneath a glass next to a receipt. Seth checked, and it was more than enough to cover the tip.

"Hey," Tristana said. "Do you wanna go for a walk?"

"Now? Uh, sure..."

As they walked out of the bar, Tristana took Seth's hand and pulled him in the direction of the river, which they walked alongside for several minutes in silence. Crickets and night owls sang their own chorus. Compared to the boisterous music they had been dancing to, it was pleasantly haunting.