Nights on the Soul©

When I awoke it was early dawn. We were parked on the street outside my apartment building in Hyde Park. Dave was stretched out as best he could across the front seat. I was resting upon his thigh, his arm curled my neck, the palm of his hand flat on my back. Besides being slightly cramped, I was finally fully rested and happy at the prospect of a new day.

I lifted my head so that my chin now rested on Dave’s pelvis. There was not a sexual aspect to all of our touching. It was a sort of a need. As natural as if this were my own body. And I must hold my own self close to make my way, whole.

In an instant Dave’s eyes fluttered apart, the left opening before the right. He gave me a hint of a smile then closed his eyes again. I reached up and tweaked his nose. Now a groan accompanied his smile. He gave a deep soul searching yawn loud enough to make me cover my ears.

“Morning, precious,” I said, “may I fix you some breakfast?”

“No, but I’ll take a body massage.”

“Hey, no problem. I’m dying to get my hands all over you. Come on up.”

I had an upstairs apartment in an old tenement that looked like a grand old hotel gone bad. The pink stucco walls on the outside were showing signs of decay. The rusting wrought iron railings on the stairs and porch had been painted over several times. What had surely been a lovely balcony overlooking the street was now sealed off due to the precarious state of its’ flooring. I loved the musty old structure. The years it had withstood only added to its’ charm.

I hooked Dave’s arm in mine and led the way.

“I don’t invite many people into my private space.”

“Should I feel honored or obligated?”

“Gosh, neither! I just wanted you to know. I mean, I don’t take on new friends that easily, well you wouldn’t know because I practically charged you down in the mall! It’s like I know a lot of people, but when it comes to really personal things, I tend to stick to myself. Not many people really know me. After my last boyfriend killed himself, I moved here and I’ve kinda been low key about life in general till I met you.”

“So I’m the bad guy. The one to break you out of your shell. The one to mold your open mind.”

“Dave, you’re just The One! I know it’s true. I need you now.”

“Miranda, don’t make a mistake now. I am one in a long line of ones. Your truth is only yours. You don’t need me. And I do not need anybody. Least of all you.”

“Dave,” I cried, “what’s wrong!?”

There was sweat all over his brow and his hands were trembling.

“Miranda, I have to go. I have to do something today.”

“Dave, don’t leave like this, please! What did I say? Why are you going? Please, Dave, please, don’t go!”

He kissed me quickly on the forehead and wiped away a tear with his thumb. I was so shocked by the change in him, I couldn’t believe he was just leaving.

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