alectoperdita | A long one...

just enough, for now
By Alecto Perdita

She traced the patterns in the wooden surface of the table. The dark spirals fell deeper and deeper into each other until one could no longer be distinguished from the other. Snow was falling outside even now. Frost built up on the window pane, fogging her view of the outside of the world. Spider web cracks ran across the surface of the soft ice. The coffee shop was warm in comparison to the weather outside. A light tune she remembered hearing on the radio yesterday weaved its melody through the air.

"Will this be enough for you?"

He thought he knew her. He thought this would go somewhere. He thought there was something underneath to dig for.

"What?"

She looked up to meet his curious gaze. He laid the cup of tea by her arm and seated himself across from her with his own cup of coffee.

"Nothing."

She turned away from him to gaze out the translucent window. Her fingers were still tracing the patterns on the tabletop, but she was straying out of the boundaries set.

He studied her hand carefully. They weren't perfect. Her fingers were slightly pudgy. They weren't long and elegant like refined ladies or expert pianists. She didn't waste her money on manicures, as long as her nails were trim and clean. No, they weren't perfect, but they were hers.

"It's almost spring." Her breath clung to the glass.

"Yea, but it looks like it'll still be pretty cold from the looks of this weather."

"How long have we been...together...?"

"Two months?"

Silence claimed their conversation again. These silences only grew more and more awkward with every occurrence. This was their relationship, like a fallow field lying in the wake of the frigid winter. He reached across the table for her hand, but she withdrew her hand before contact was even made. Her fingers retreated to caress the handle on her mug.

He was the one to break the silence. He always was. "We should go, or we'll be late for the movie."

"Okay."

They pulled on their coats and made their way to the door. He looked back to see the cup of tea, not having been drunk from yet, but it looked cold now. They stood under the green awning, watching the water drip from overhead.

"It's raining now..." Her breath hung in the air for a second before it was dispersed by the wind.

He watched as the raindrops slammed into the ground and leave tiny craters in the white snow patches. Winter thaws in spring... She moved away from his side and into the rain. She was soaked immediately upon stepping out from under their shelter. They hadn't brought an umbrella. As he watched the rivulets of water trail down her face, he felt as if he was witnessing the slight thawing of the icy surface of their relationship.

A smile slowly crept across his lips. "Spring is coming."

"April showers bring May flowers."

"It's March."

"I know."

He had heard her question earlier. This was enough, for now. That was all she had asked for. It was just enough, even if only for now.

She extended a hand to him and he took it. Her hands were callused, imperfect. She turned and pulled him into the bone-chilling rain.

It was all they could ask for. For now...

~~~

The above is just a little drabble I wrote because I was inspired to.

I skipped sociology at Lehman today. I just didn't want to go in the snow. Had dinner with Vick for about two hours or so and then went to B&N.

I have no life...