So I wrote this little story, trying to keep it simple, leave some love.
Ben sat calm behind the wheel, somewhat upright in the seat, the top of his palm held fast to the steering wheel. This stretch of I-95 was almost a straight shot northwards, and easy enough to be navigated even if a driver was under heavy sedation. He had been driving for almost four hours, and sweat was forming on his back and through his grey t-shirt and starting to drip downward, dampening his worn shorts. Four hours in a car he could do. Ten hours he could do, but this trip was seeing him trip on words and use one single sullen facial expression. He shifted his seating and stretched his legs, taking his right foot off the gas pedal for a moment. Pushing in the cigarette lighter, he stepped back on the gas while his left hand went to roll the window down and his right hand took the wheel for a moment. Switching up hands again, her reached for his cigarettes in the console, licking his finger lightly to open the box and still have enough friction to single handedly retrieve a cigarette. It quickly met his lips, and, as if perfectly timed, the lighter popped out of its socket into Bens receiving thumb and index finger. He lit his cigarette, eyes half on the road, half on the igniting paper. He put the lighter back and tended to the stereo, turning up the volume to intensify the opening drums of a Coldplay song. Bringing his hand up, he grazed a picture that was sitting in the front of the console. His left hand rose to his lips to take the cigarette away and then carefully perched back on the wheel, the smoke rising slow and fluid before dancing wildly out of the open window. He picked up the picture and pressed it with his thumb as he held both picture and steering wheel in one grip. The gloss of the picture reflected the dry sunlight growing around him as a single cloud passed away from it in the summer sky. The song began to grow more romantic, and the picture wobbled slightly with the wind entering the car. Ben mouthed along as a tear formed in his right eye, In my place, in my place, the lines that I couldnt change, I was lost, oh yeah
He walked up the unfinished wooden steps of the resort still clutching Annes left hand. Ben slowed his steps about ten feet from her hotel room. He had known that she was only staying a week, she told him that when they met four days ago. He kept his eyes forward, while Anne looked down at their hands together; the last time she would ever see that. She noticed his hands were significantly darker than hers, possibly from working outdoors at the restaurant they had met at two buildings down. Ben felt he should speak, or do something that would ratify the deep sinking feeling in his chest.
Um, these past couple of days, theyve been, he stopped to draw in a long breath, Theyve been, amazing, and, it means a lot to me, I mean, this means a lot to me
Yeah, I dont think Ill ever forget this vacation, She smiled brightly and held her camera with both hands, somewhat toying with it, unafraid of dropping the object that was hitched neatly around her wrist. I had a really great time
Yeah, um, I have to say, I think, uh, I mean, this week, this whole thing, like, being with you has, its, well, it hurts that this has to be, you know, over with so soon.
Here, hold on, Im gonna give you my address, and Ill get yours she rushed into her room while Ben watched and tried to hold back his tears. She quickly took down his address and then kept writing, tore off a piece of the page and handed it to him. Ben took the paper and put it in his right pocket only to store it in his wallet later. Ben stood there for a second, sure footed and strong in foundation while Anne folded her arms and let her smile escape.
Im glad I met you, Ben said simply, his first sentence uninterrupted by doubt, And I will miss you, I want to stay in touch.
Yeah, it feels like Ive known you for much longer than four days, but this has been amazing. Ill miss you too. Ben stepped towards her and raised his arms to embrace her at the waist. Her shirt was warm, the beach air had been gentle on this July night, and the waves crashing were still audible at the front door of the beach side condos. He kept his head straight, eyes closed, while her cheek rested on the outer edge of his collar bone and the front of his right bicep. Their heads seemed to shift at once, and without hesitation, they kissed deeply, Bens grip pulling her closer, as if his body also knew this would be the last time. They stopped kissing, and Ben rested his forehead at the top of hers, still in embrace they stood. Annes eyes widened and her smile returned as she quickly loosened her lock around him. Hold on, she exclaimed, Let me get a picture of us, Ill send it to you when I get these developed!
Ben let a hand slip back in his pocket as he softly bit his bottom lip in sadness. She came back to his side, and Ben mustered up a smile as his arms encircled her hips to him again, one last time. They both looked straight at the camera, Anne steadily holding it while her other arm reached across Bens back. The flash; they both stared right through it.
His face managed to change once, smiling softly at the song again. Shell never call, he said to himself, Shell forget all about me when she gets to school. Ben reached across the seat to open the glove box. Just as with the cigarette, he opened it quickly and tossed the picture in, closing it immediately. He shifted one last time as he crossed the state line, lifting his feet, like he had heard in that Better Than Ezra song once, and got into the other lane to speed up.
Ben sat calm behind the wheel, somewhat upright in the seat, the top of his palm held fast to the steering wheel. This stretch of I-95 was almost a straight shot northwards, and easy enough to be navigated even if a driver was under heavy sedation. He had been driving for almost four hours, and sweat was forming on his back and through his grey t-shirt and starting to drip downward, dampening his worn shorts. Four hours in a car he could do. Ten hours he could do, but this trip was seeing him trip on words and use one single sullen facial expression. He shifted his seating and stretched his legs, taking his right foot off the gas pedal for a moment. Pushing in the cigarette lighter, he stepped back on the gas while his left hand went to roll the window down and his right hand took the wheel for a moment. Switching up hands again, her reached for his cigarettes in the console, licking his finger lightly to open the box and still have enough friction to single handedly retrieve a cigarette. It quickly met his lips, and, as if perfectly timed, the lighter popped out of its socket into Bens receiving thumb and index finger. He lit his cigarette, eyes half on the road, half on the igniting paper. He put the lighter back and tended to the stereo, turning up the volume to intensify the opening drums of a Coldplay song. Bringing his hand up, he grazed a picture that was sitting in the front of the console. His left hand rose to his lips to take the cigarette away and then carefully perched back on the wheel, the smoke rising slow and fluid before dancing wildly out of the open window. He picked up the picture and pressed it with his thumb as he held both picture and steering wheel in one grip. The gloss of the picture reflected the dry sunlight growing around him as a single cloud passed away from it in the summer sky. The song began to grow more romantic, and the picture wobbled slightly with the wind entering the car. Ben mouthed along as a tear formed in his right eye, In my place, in my place, the lines that I couldnt change, I was lost, oh yeah
He walked up the unfinished wooden steps of the resort still clutching Annes left hand. Ben slowed his steps about ten feet from her hotel room. He had known that she was only staying a week, she told him that when they met four days ago. He kept his eyes forward, while Anne looked down at their hands together; the last time she would ever see that. She noticed his hands were significantly darker than hers, possibly from working outdoors at the restaurant they had met at two buildings down. Ben felt he should speak, or do something that would ratify the deep sinking feeling in his chest.
Um, these past couple of days, theyve been, he stopped to draw in a long breath, Theyve been, amazing, and, it means a lot to me, I mean, this means a lot to me
Yeah, I dont think Ill ever forget this vacation, She smiled brightly and held her camera with both hands, somewhat toying with it, unafraid of dropping the object that was hitched neatly around her wrist. I had a really great time
Yeah, um, I have to say, I think, uh, I mean, this week, this whole thing, like, being with you has, its, well, it hurts that this has to be, you know, over with so soon.
Here, hold on, Im gonna give you my address, and Ill get yours she rushed into her room while Ben watched and tried to hold back his tears. She quickly took down his address and then kept writing, tore off a piece of the page and handed it to him. Ben took the paper and put it in his right pocket only to store it in his wallet later. Ben stood there for a second, sure footed and strong in foundation while Anne folded her arms and let her smile escape.
Im glad I met you, Ben said simply, his first sentence uninterrupted by doubt, And I will miss you, I want to stay in touch.
Yeah, it feels like Ive known you for much longer than four days, but this has been amazing. Ill miss you too. Ben stepped towards her and raised his arms to embrace her at the waist. Her shirt was warm, the beach air had been gentle on this July night, and the waves crashing were still audible at the front door of the beach side condos. He kept his head straight, eyes closed, while her cheek rested on the outer edge of his collar bone and the front of his right bicep. Their heads seemed to shift at once, and without hesitation, they kissed deeply, Bens grip pulling her closer, as if his body also knew this would be the last time. They stopped kissing, and Ben rested his forehead at the top of hers, still in embrace they stood. Annes eyes widened and her smile returned as she quickly loosened her lock around him. Hold on, she exclaimed, Let me get a picture of us, Ill send it to you when I get these developed!
Ben let a hand slip back in his pocket as he softly bit his bottom lip in sadness. She came back to his side, and Ben mustered up a smile as his arms encircled her hips to him again, one last time. They both looked straight at the camera, Anne steadily holding it while her other arm reached across Bens back. The flash; they both stared right through it.
His face managed to change once, smiling softly at the song again. Shell never call, he said to himself, Shell forget all about me when she gets to school. Ben reached across the seat to open the glove box. Just as with the cigarette, he opened it quickly and tossed the picture in, closing it immediately. He shifted one last time as he crossed the state line, lifting his feet, like he had heard in that Better Than Ezra song once, and got into the other lane to speed up.
I've been doing good man, working a whole lot, classes start at Portland State on Monday; oh, and I had my first gray hair yesterday. My aunt cuts my hair, and saw it. I guess I'm getting old.