A Dreamer's Worlds

Beautiful

        I met her at a coffee shop. A small one, not Starbucks or anything, but a little coffee shop that you could walk right past and not notice. I went there often.

        I bought her a book. She seemed like a girl who'd appreciate it. I bought her a book and we sat down together to talk about it. It was Dean Koontz, I remember. Phantoms, or maybe it was Darkfall. It was Dean Koontz, that I know.

        She's screaming. There's blood everywhere and she's screaming.

        We talked for some time. By the time we left, the coffee shop was about to close. I gave her my number, even though it was normal to ask for hers.

        She called me the next morning, on Saturday. Asked if I wanted to go out and get a drink, maybe see a movie. When I called the movie theater, it was closed. Repairs, I was told. I called her back and passed on the message, and she said we could go to the park. I agreed. I like the park. It's very calm.

        I tell her to be quiet, to let my voice calm her down. She won't listen.

        We went to the park. I remember, there were a lot of dogs. She told me she wanted a dog, but her apartment was too small. I said she could get a small dog. She laughed and told me she was too busy for a dog.

        She was beautiful, you know. I wanted to write on and on about how beautiful she was, but I didn't. We sat on a bench, in the park. I don't remember what we talked about. Something lovely, I'm sure. It wasn't just her body that was beautiful.

        I tell her that I love her, more than she could know. She shakes her head 'no.'

        After the park, we had dinner. I took her to one of the fancier restaurants. I wasn't rich, so I made sure not to take her anywhere I couldn't afford. I think we had steak, or maybe chicken. I did. I remember joking about her being a vegetarian, so she ordered some meat to prove me wrong. I liked her smile.

        We talked about movies, I think. Yes, we did. I remember because she brought up Grave Encounters. That was a good movie. My favorite. After dinner, I asked if I could take her home, but she told me no. That was fine. I went home.

        There's layers of pictures on the wall, each layer a different girl. Hers are the newest.

        The next day, I called the theater. Asked if they were open. They were. I called her and asked if she wanted to see a movie later. She said yes, and I wrote about her until I could pick her up.

        I remember how beautiful she looked, even in her hoodie and jeans. She got into my car, and we went to the movies. We saw one that had just come out. Gallows Hill, I think it was. She didn't get too scared. She was strong. It only made her more beautiful.

        "Am I as beautiful as you are?" I ask her. She shakes her head, trembling in my arms.

        After the movie, I convinced her to come to my house. We talked about the movie on the way there. She asked if I believed in demons or ghosts. I told I didn't. She asked me why. I couldn't answer.

        When we got to my house, and she came in, she wanted to leave. I told her we were going to have fun. I don't think she wanted to have fun. I know I did. So I had fun. I remember having fun.

        Her body is so beautiful, and so graceful even as she screams and cries. I'm still having fun.

        I remember, her name was Irene.