I bumped into Natalia at a downtown mall.
I shopped for jeans
and couldn’t find my size.
So, I asked the woman
with long, dark hair
that cascaded to the small of her back.
She turned.
I swallowed hard.
Her deep green oval eyes hypnotized my lust for a crush.
I’d never fallen for a woman at first sight,
but this woman wasn’t like other women.
“Natalia?”
She arched a brow. “Do I know you?”
I pointed. “It’s on your nametag.”
“Right.” Natalia laughed and moved her bangs behind her ear. “It’s been a long day.”
“You look great,” I thought before I said it.
Natalia blushed. “So, the jeans are over here.” She motioned for me to follow her.
“You’re an angel.” I slid hangers around, looking at sizes and prices. “Thank you, Natalia.”
She stood with her hands close to her body. “Need help?”
“I’m not good at finding jeans,” I said.
Natalia moved the hangers on the rack. “What about these?” She held up a pair. “36 inch waist, right?”
“That works.”
“32 inch length?”
“Perfect.”
“Problem solved,” Natalia said, giving me a polite smile.
“Are you always this nice?”
“I try to be.” She turned her head either way and moved her eyes around. “And you’re cute.”
“So are you,” I said.
“I know it’s cliche to say this, but I’ve always skirted expectations.”
“I like that energy.”
“Plus, I remember you from eighth grade biology.”
I squinted. “Oh, my gosh.” I palmed my forehead. “I’m sorry about…” I trailed off in thought to form the right words to make amends.
Natalia motioned. “No need to apologize.”
“I really am—”
“Don’t.” Natalia gave a dismissive wave.
“Can I call you?” I said.
Natalia folded her lips under her teeth. “Call me?”
“Yes,” I said with eyes of compassion.
“I don’t need sympathy.” She straightened the store clothes.
“I only teased you because I had a crush on you.”
“Fine,” Natalia said. “Call me.”
I dug into my pocket for my phone.
I unlocked it and handed it to her.
Natalia plugged in her phone number.
“I’ll call you later,” I said.
Natalia gave me a half smile. “We’ll see.”
I moved to the cash register in the evenly lit
store.
The workers gave pleasant pleasantries.
Better than Natalia’s address,
I had her phone number.
It’s ridiculous the way
Natalia felt my touch
as she touched herself
as we spoke in pedantic
riddles of intimacy in a forest
near a lake tucked behind a cabin away
from our youthful conservative tropes.
Passion barreled through a floodgate of insecurities.
Indecision spoke ill of her self-esteem.
Natalia spilled her honesty through
the receiver, and I heard it through
the speaker.
Natalia’s father left when she turned five.
My father drank himself to death.
I choked back a tear in my voice.
Natalia attached a face to my emotion.
We concluded love alone wasn’t enough.
Natalia’s past saturated my thoughts
and hope for a better future.
We met in person,
and it was as though we’d known
each other for forever.