Kingdom Come Undone

I knew her like you know a dream. Simultaneously knowing everything and nothing all at once. A face I could recognize in a crowd as easily as it could fade into the masses. A smile that imprinted itself into my fantasies and also my nightmares. She both haunted and transcended me. She felt a part of me from first sight despite not knowing anything about her. But as soon as her eyes hit mine from across the room, I knew that I would be nothing without her. Without making my dreams a reality.

Her curled up-do hit my eyes first. The nape of her neck angled and arched in a way that begged for company. She tilted her head toward conversation, mimicking the laughter swirling around her. I was caught between the luxury of her giggle and the dip in the back of her red gown flush against her skin. I imagined her smile, as the glow from the chandeliers above reflected off her earrings that dangled delicately. Her grin had no other option but to shine just as bright. I prayed for her turn toward me, for the actuality of her beauty to exceed my idea of it. I followed the zipper of her dress against her skin as I lifted my martini for another sip. The sharpness of the gin hit my lips as her body turned 90 degrees. Her jawline hit the back of my throat at the same time as my drink, gasping for air as her red lipstick took my breath away. The strapless gown appeared to float across the floor behind her as I could only assume the angel in front of me was destined to float as well. Someone called out the name of the man she was speaking to, causing her eyes to flit closer toward my sight line.

Blue.

A color of usual despair now a symbol of hope for my imagined future. Her hand extended to make acquaintance of the man approaching the conversation and though her smile appeared sincere, it quickly faded as the men promptly continued speaking without her. She sighed, rolling her eyes as she continued to rotate away from them. Spinning until... there she was.

I straightened my back as I took her all in. Shorter than me, but with more confidence which I thought evened us out nicely. Her eyes flit around the room searching for newfound company. So I waited for her eyes to linger over mine. I looked down, delaying eye contact until I felt her eyes pause. I adjusted my glance just as her eyes scanned my exposed neckline. She swept them up to my face as I attempted to take a drink nonchalantly, smiling through my sip as her cerulean irises reached mine. She blinked, looking me up and down shamelessly. Raising my glass politely, I nodded my head her way before spinning back to the bar.

"Could I take another martini and a white wine?"

"Tab for the hard alcohol?"

"Fields." I replied, passing another $5 bill as a tip his way.

Perfectly shaped nails intercepted the bill, as the voice matching the laugh I previously heard reached my ears, "Paul, feel free to put her tab onto mine." She nodded to the bartender before fully facing me. "Hi..."

From my peripheral vision, I watched her gulp despite her air of confidence. I grazed my pinky finger over hers to slide the bill out from her grasp, "A tip, for you. Paul..."

"Thank you, Ms. Fields. Your martini." He inhaled, turning to her, "And I assume your wine, ma'am."

"Hmm?" I heard her voice shake beneath her lilt as she picked up the glass, "Charming, are you?"

I put on my slyest smile while facing her, "Close. I'm Emily. Noticed you getting low as we made eye contact back there."

"Emily..." My name read like a poem across her lips. I pinched the inside of my wrist as she continued, "Thank you. Hoping that I would come over here, were you?"

I shrugged, looking directly into her eyes as I replied, "I was planning on coming to you actually, but you took it easy on me."

"What can I say? You turning away from my smile had me puzzled. What brings you to the event tonight?" She started walking for the tables nearby as I followed close behind.