The Black Rose

Come inside

Anna

As I’m waking up, my eyes are blurry with sleep and I’m still lost in the dream I’d been having. I notice something unfamiliar out of the corner of my eye and snap fully awake. There on the bedside table is the teddy bear message in a bottle, a small jewelry box and a whole bouquet of black silk roses next to the vase I had put all the other roses in. How had these new gifts gotten inside my apartment?

After putting on my pajamas, I check the front door. It’s locked. I search my brain trying to figure out this mystery. A thought comes to my mind and I check the drawer where I keep the spare key. The key is gone. ‘How had he gotten my key?’ I asked myself, but then an even bigger thought descended on me and made all other questions cease.

He was here. He was here in my apartment. Were his lips the lips I felt kissing me in my dream? I should feel scared, I should feel terrified. A complete stranger has the only other key to my apartment and can come and go as he wishes. I should feel violated for crying out loud!

Instead I feel excited. The thought of his lips on mine, the image of him next to me while I’m unaware of his presence, sends a shiver down my spine. He was here and as far to my knowledge nothing he had done was in any way threatening. I wondered if he’ll return tonight and suddenly the idea of leaving a gift for him takes hold of me.

Grabbing pen and paper, I begin to write. I write a short poem, all I can think to say, and tape it to my bedroom door before I forget. Satisfied with my words, I return to my bed and read the card inside the teddy bear bottle: For the angel I love. I open the jewelry box and find a beautiful pair of silver rope earrings. I’m absolutely stunned!

Later that evening, I went to see a movie. I was hoping it wouldn’t be that crowded since most people tended to go out for a romantic dinner on this holiday. I also prayed my secret admirer would come with me. I wanted to see him watching me.

Upon entering the lighted theater I noticed that it was mildly packed. I chose a seat towards the back and watched the revolving reel of commercials and movie trivia on the large screen. Occasionally I would glance at the door behind me to see who had just entered. Wishing the next to enter would be him.

Once the theater goes dark and the opening credits start to play, I’m almost convinced he’s not going to show. I had this row of seats entirely to myself, but still hardly noticed when someone sat down a few spaces away. From the corner of my eye I thought I could just make out the scar on his left cheek. He’s here, I thought.

I could be mistaken, the theater is very dark. Even with the soft glow from the screen it’s hard to see anyone. I try to relax. Just watch the movie Anna, I tell myself and then pull out of my purse the box of Butter Finger BB’s I had earlier bought at CVS.

The movie was a pretty good romantic comedy. It made me laugh, cry and then laugh again. Once the ending credits and gag reel had passes, I exited the theater. Apparently the person that I had previously seen had left the theater without me noticing. I wondered if that was him after all.

I returned home, feeling a little disappointed that I hadn’t seen my phantom and then excited at the thought that he might visit me. I had the thought of staying awake and waiting for him but I feared that he wouldn’t come if he knew I was up. So I got ready for bed, turned out all the lights and while lying in my bed staring at the moonlight through my window, sleep finally took me.

Stalker

            I’ve followed her to the movies; it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a show with anyone. I had to wait till the lights were out to take my seat and only sat three seats away. To be honest, I think I could have gotten away with two. I don’t think she saw me since the theater was so dark. She pulled out a box of chocolate, and her body relaxed as she looked up at the screen.

I had never watched a movie through someone else’s eyes before, but tonight I did. I watched her reactions as the main characters on screen met. I heard her laugh when they said corny lines, saw her tilt her head to one side and a teary eyed smile touch her beautiful face as they fell in love. I observed the tears that fell from her eyes when one of the lovers found out the other’s secret and witnesses that sweet smile return when the lovers were reunited.

As the ending credits scrolled up the screen I watched her regain her composer and then I left the theater before her. I knew she’d be leaving soon and that I’d see her later at her apartment.

Now I’m here once again in the apartment of my angel. I found the perfect gift for her at a small novelty shop down the street. I walk to her bedroom door intending to leave this gift on her nightstand as I had done before, then I see it. A card, folded in half and taped to her door, the front reads: For my stalker.

Inside there’s a short poem:

I don’t know who you are

And you watch me from afar

A stranger to my soul

Unknown but also known

In the night I felt your lips

You left with me a burning kiss

I surrender to you my heart’s key

Always your angel, eternally

I’m speechless. I stand at her door, reading the words again and again. A fear grips me. She knows I’m here. It was different before that poem. I knew that she knew about me, that she guessed at me being in the shadows, but it wasn’t blatantly obvious that she was aware of my presence. For all I know she’s wide awake on the other side of this door, waiting for me.

After reading the poem one last time, curiosity gets the best of me. I took the poem from the door, deposited it in my pocket and opened the door. She lay silently sleeping on her bed, her room bathed in moonlight. I walked over and placed the new gift I had gotten her on her nightstand, she did not stir.

She looked so peaceful just lying there. I can tell that tonight she was wearing pajamas, light blue with snowflakes. I smile at how cute they are. Suddenly she stirs, her eyes shut tighter and she releases an uncomfortable whine. She seems to be lost in a nightmare.

My first reaction is to comfort her. I climb onto the bed next to her and let my arms wrap around her, holding her close to me. She instantly calms down and snuggles closer to me but still she doesn’t wake. I stroke her hair while I hold her and remain silent.

I stayed with her nearly the whole night, just holding her. When sleep threatened to take me, I gently removed my arms from around her and quietly exited her apartment. I made the conscience decision to leave her spare key in a small gift box on her car. It’s too risky having her knowing when I’m around.