In March of 2003 I was a different man. The plans had changed significantly for the first time. I had gone from a universal know it all to a dimly lit star in the corner of the cosmos. Everything I fundamentally believed in had been shaken.
The path at that time was so overgrown it couldn't be seen. Since I wasn't able to escape to Manhattan to start the life I wanted I had taken to "Doing Dirt in the Distance". Montreal was just a short four hour drive away and the exchange rate was so very good.
I had found six blocks in the city where I could eat, sleep, drink, meet beautiful women and lose myself. Tomorrow didn't exist. It didn't need to exist. It was the getaway for when things had gotten away. That night was different.
I arrived at The Yard at 7:45. The plan was to meet Jules and her friend, have a quick drink, then get home and get some sleep. As routine as I was trying to make the night there was a tinge of excitement. I hadn't been set up on a date in a while.
Much to my surprise Jules was already there. Her shift had let out early and she had stopped by for a quick dinner.
"Hey, buddy," she said standing up to give me a hug. "You look nice. I like the suit."
"Thank you. I hope your friend likes it, too." I said feeling the slick smile cut across my face.
'I need you to be nice to her."
"What do you mean?" I asked feeling a stiffening of my spine. "I'm always nice."
"I don't need you to be 'asshole' nice. I need you to be 'you' nice. If she just needed someone to be 'asshole' nice I would just introduce her to anyone here. She needs you to be you with her and not use it against her."
"What..." I started.
"I need you to be good to her. I need you to be good to her like you were good to Caitlin."
My heart skipped a beat.
"What happened to her?" I whispered feeling the floor shift beneath my feet. Caitlin's name had caught me off guard.
"If she trusts you," she said touching my cheek, "she'll tell you."
I felt a wave of awareness. I realized that my home was just a short thirty minute drive away. I was so close it would be almost impossible to lose myself. Tomorrow needed to exist.
I sat and thought about the last trip to Montreal while Jules finished her dinner. I thought about the freedom it had to offer.
"Hey, Jules," I heard a voice chime from behind me.
"She's here," said Jules standing to hug her.
Beneath the curly brunette hair and the beautiful eyes was the biggest, prettiest smile I had seen in years. I felt my spine relax. Suddenly the path didn't seem so overgrown. Montreal seemed far away and the local exchange rate was looking pretty damn good.
No comments:
Post a Comment