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The Normal Conversation
2003-06-07 17:40:32
Stars aligned and….
The man walks through the door. He puts the things he brought with him to one side. Making his way to the table he meets his opposite number. She smiles at him. It is a gesture of familiarity and complacency. He fails to notice and instead takes a seat at the table. She joins him. The silence up to this point had not been uncomfortable, but it was destined to be shattered like so much glass. The woman is the first to speak.
“Your late.”
“I know.”
“It will be ready soon.”
“Already?”
“Yeah, how was it today?”
“You-know-who was giving me trouble again.”
“You never do anything about that.”
“I know. I always say I will and I put on a good show, but when it comes time to pay my debts, I back out.”
“All you need is a little encouragement.”
“You used to be the one who gave me that.”
“I still do.”
“It doesn’t always feel that way. What’s changed?”
“Maybe you’ve forgotten how to see?”
“Can you help me remember?”
“Yes…..”
The light was dim, but not so dim as to obscure. Once again the conversation drifted into a lull, but it was fast ending. This time it was he who broke the silence.
“What did you do today?”
“I have a tough time looking after things here.”
“Do you get lonely?”
“Yes, sometimes. It reminds me of old times, when it was just me.”
“But I'm here now.”
“Well….”
Commotion outside and around them started in. First as a slow drone, then increasing in volume. It was the sound of people toiling through the day, working and living and never minding.
“It isn’t enough?”
“Its not that, but your not here that often.”
“It’s true, not as much as I would like to be, but I do send word often.”
The din grew louder, the cries of life and the groaning of time immutable.
“I receive them, but it’s not the same.”
The cries of time and joy became the gasps of unsung longing and the terror of banality. The man strained his voice to compete.
“I do what I can, but maybe you’ve forgotten how to listen?”
“Maybe, but first you have to speak.”
“I do speak.”
The commotion about the outer sanctum rose to such a degree that they could no longer perceive words if any had been spoken to hear. The noise swirled around, grappling and wafting about in anger and invading their other senses. Soon it was gone as passing storm clouds, scarcely remembered. Even though she still appeared distracted he continued anyway.
“It wont be long now will it?”
“No. Its almost time.”
“What will you do after all this?”
“Actually I’m not sure. I don’t have a plan for what happens next. But there will not be a major change, I will still be here.”
“Even I I’m not?”
“Are you going somewhere?”
“No, but I don’t have a plan either.”
It was excruciatingly calm all about. Lost in thought, her eyes seemed to gloss over. she was now looking through her memory, searching. Looking for….
“Is it time?”
“Oh, yes, I remember now. Its always happened this way, hasn’t it?”
He was no longer looking at her. He was looking through her, focused on something else.
“Is it ready yet?”
“Its never been easy, has it?”
He attempted to get up and go closer, but he stumbled. The light dimmed. They seemed so far apart now.
“Is it almost done?”
“It’s too hard for us, isn’t it?”
“What?”
Darkness claimed them.
“For us to have a normal conversation.”
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Journal entry???
2003-04-05 18:45:13
He said, fingers flahing over the keyboard wildly in a haphazard dash to convey the unspoken words onto the page faster than a pantyflash.
people can..... read this?
A nervous grin peeked its way from his face as possibilities danced broadway routines in front of him.
Where could this go. Where would he lead himself?
Who cares?
He hit the submit button.
JOURNAL: Hexus
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