“See how she leans her cheek upon her hand. O, that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek!”My exaggerated voice is full of mirth as I crack a joke to ease the tension.
The giggle that escapes her sets my heart back to its normal rhythm.
“You did it. I truly believe you’re so much stronger thanyou give yourself credit for. A pillar of strength. That’s why I pushed you so hard last year. Now look at you. You’ll figure this out.”
“And apparently all it takes is a heavy parka,” she says with humor as she looks up at me, her eyes stopping on my lips, before traveling up to my eyes.
I stand there, a blinking idiot, unsure where to look as I take in the delicate features of her face.
Her big brown eyes, surrounded by hundreds of long lashes that flutter rapidly under my scrutiny.
Her high cheekbones, makeup-free, yet covered in the lightest of blushes.
Her plump, round, kissable lips I’ve never touched, yet am dying to taste.
There’s a voice in my head telling me to slide my hands down to her waist, pull her into me, and kiss her. Telling me to take what I want. Her eyes flick to my lips again, and that voice yells at me to give in to what I want, what we both want.
A door clicks closed in the back of the theatre, but when I turn in that direction, I don’t see anyone. Taking a step back from her, the look of disappointment on her face nearly breaks me. It’s like the universe is reminding me once again to keep my distance from her.
——————
Emma
The next morning there’s another letter taped to my door when I leave the apartment. I look around and don’t see anyone else outside. My roommate is hardly ever around. It could be for her, but it’s unlikely. I open the envelope and unfold the paper.
My love?—
I cannot fix on the hour or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.
We will be reunited soon, my love. Have patience and be safe.
Always Yours
I instantly recognize the first part fromPride and Prejudice. It has the same handwriting as the other letters I received and was taped to my door the same way, but this one was in an envelope, and not all of them have been. Since I’m cutting it close on time, I can’t investigate further, so I head over to the walking trail and make my way to campus. I read the letter a few more times when a voice pulls me from my thoughts.
“Hey, Emma!”
When I look up, Jeremy is walking toward me, and I offer him a polite smile. “Hey, I’m gonna be late for class,” I say, shoving the letter in my pocket and pointing to my watch.
He changes direction and comes up next to me. “I’ll walk you. I just finished a workout, and I’m kind of hungry. Any chance your class is on the way to the caf?”
“Kinda,” I say.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I didn’t mean to freak you out. I totally forgot about your touching thing. I should’ve remembered from last year.”
“Oh yeah. It took some time, but we figured it out for that scene. We’ll figure it out for the play.” Maybe if I say it out loud, I’ll manifest it. I don’t mention the day that he missed class and I had to act my scene with Professor A-hole. He was able to grab my hand without all the rehearsal, and I still can’t figure out why that didn’t bother me.
“Was Professor Ali a dickabout it when we left?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Actually, he kind of helped me. I told him about my issue, and he gave me some tips that might help.”
We walk in silence for a bit, and my mind keeps replaying the moment on stage when Professor A-hole held my shoulders and told me I was strong.
“I truly believe you’re so much stronger that you give yourself credit for. A pillar of strength.”
There’s something familiar about that phrase “a pillar of strength,” but I can’t recall where I might have heard it.
“See you at rehearsal!” Jeremy calls as we part ways.
