The window came down and she heard a voice say, “Mariah, are you okay? You need a ride somewhere?” Surprised, she arose from the bench, walked cautiously to the car, bent down a little to see this dark figure. The inside light came on and a huge smile developed on her face. “I’m so glad to see you.” Visibly concerned about her well being, Eric opens the door from the inside to allow her entry.

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“And I didn’t break his heart. He broke mine…….”

“Wait, I’m confused. What are you talking about? What happened?” Cheryl asked cautiously.

“You know me. I’m so big on feeling something or someone. The sweet smell of his breath, the softness of his lips upon mine, and the way that he talked about me as if I was someone. It made me feel like somebody or like I was actually on this planet. The sky wasn’t dark and empty to me anymore. The stars spoke to me for once and not to everyone else.”

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“Eric you know that……….that…..”

“What Mariah?”

Eric stood from the stairs with a curious look upon his face, unsure of what she was going to say but leaning towards the fact that she may be letting him down easy. To spare himself the embarrassment, Eric excused himself to go home.

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Mariah locks on to Eric’s eyes, moving from eye to eye, lips, cheeks, wondering if what happened was a joke, out of friendship or something else. The incident was unexpected from someone she saw as mild mannered and soft, a friend, and a colleague. The goose bumps arose on her arm, down her back, and legs as if a cool breeze gave her a chill. The night sky seemed to darken more so, as the stars in the sky took on a new shape. The shimmer faded as the attention was paid more to the planes moving along the sky, leaving a jet stream in its path. The sound prompted Eric to look upon the plane approaching the airport not too far from the party. Mariah’s eyes are still burning upon his neck. From the corner of his eye, Eric can slightly see the long black dress that fits her body well, flow with the brief wind. It’s a typical summer night, but atypical for the two of them. As Eric scans the street from right to left, he turns to finally rest his eyes upon Mariah’s settled; yet, puzzled face. The front light standing in the yard covers the portion of her knee down her shin. Quickly, Eric turns away again, noticing how the spears of grass move slowly with the cross breeze. As Eric scanned the area, smelling the strawberry scent that she always wears, Mariah continued to stare at him. His thoughts were all about her breaking him down, telling him that she just wants to be friends and nothing more or just not say anything. However, Mariah had something else on her mind altogether.

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(Lost in his thoughts yet again, Eric stands in the corner of the porch creating the story from where he left off in his office. The blanket of darkness has come upon him, and shields him from the new comers to the party as well as those who are already there. The porch light shines just enough to show those who are coming the image of someone from his waist down. Cars move slowly up and down the street to avoid autos that are parked along the way, curious as to what is happening. Cheryl is leaving and decided to throw a little gathering to thank her friends; however, Eric doesn’t feel comfortable because of their past relationship and how people still gossip about the two of them sneaking around even though she is involved with Jeff. Cheryl and Eric are friends; yet, they can only truly deal with one another one on one to curb the gossip. Besides Eric has always been attracted to Mariah.

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As the day fades, and evening takes shape, she glances at me with the face of a woman who is tired. Tired of the same things and ready to be treated the way a princess should be treated. I’m just a simple man with simple thoughts in her eyes. In my mind, this is how she sees me. Life has a way of making you forget your dreams, goals, and those ideas that get us through the weeks. Seems as if life has dealt her a blow or maybe she is just simple. All she wants is to be happy, secure in life, taken care of emotionally, mentally and physically. Each day I’ve tried to read her mind, searching for her desires. She seems happy; yet, a bit unsatisfied. However, either way, I can’t wrap my thoughts around the answer. She doesn’t really know me, but I know her. We have a special undefined relationship. Our time or tenure will be coming to an end soon in this beautiful setting as soon as she walks away. Of course the setting lies in my mind, not in reality. I try to become one with her mind and her desires; yet, I fall short each time.

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