My grandmother used to tell me to truly know someone you realize they have their own issues. You can see their demons at every moment. My grandfather for instance, she could see every single day his temper and his selfishness. Yet she chose to love him anyway.
That’s another thing she told me about, love. You can pick who you love. You can pick who you open yourself up to because it was your choice in the first place. If I had never struck up a conversation I wouldn’t love you. Although what is life without being loved and lost.
“Tell me about him again,” Joannah begged. All she ever asked about was Michael. Her obsession with our story was overwhelming but I guess it was a interesting. So I began our tale again.
“Years ago when I was eighteen I fell in love for the first time. But I was in love with the idea of this man and not who he really was. We first met while I was walking home from god knows where,” She sat across from me almost mouthing the words. Jo had to have known this story by heart by now. “I was waiting at the crosswalk when the light finally signaled my time to go when a car came barreling around a corner and before I knew what was happening a hand dragged me backwards. A man with bleached hair and an eyebrow ring stared down at me while breathing heavily. ‘Sorry about the almost breaking your arm but it’s better than being dead,’ the man shrugged and continued to study me while I took in what just happened. ‘Thank you so much,’ I said while extending a hand which he took immediately. ‘I’m very grateful,’ after a moment of smiling at him I realize we had not stopped shaking hands and I pulled away embarrassed. ‘It’s uhm, really no problem. Are you sure you don’t want to go to like a hospital or anything. I mean I pulled you arm pretty hard.’ ‘Oh no. That’s alright. I’m headed, well uhm. Anyway thank you.’ I tried to cough to cover the fact that I wasn’t quite sure where I was headed but he seemed to pick up on that. ‘Why don’t we go get some coffee?’ He looked down and run his hand through his hair. At first I didn’t say anything and you could see him deflate. His shoulders began to droop a bit and his stature was not quite so intimidating. ‘That sounds nice. I know this pretty little place down on stockten it’s only about a block from here.’ The man smiled at me and gestured for me to lead the way. ‘I’m Michael by the way,’ ‘Kara.’”
I stop speaking and you can see Jo’s frustration rise.
“You can’t just stop there! I love the coffee shop part,” her whines and pleas to keep going don’t stop the entire time I am finishing getting ready for work. She even calls as I am walking to the car begging for just a few more moments.
“Joannah, if you come down to the gallery during my lunch break we can sit and I will finish the coffee shop part and that part only! Now go clean up the house so you have time to come down here,” I hear a few muttered words and a sigh across the line.
“Alright, I’ll see you then. I love you, mom.”
“I love you too sweetheart.”
