Springtime
“A toast to springtime and love,” said Andy lifting his glass.
“To love? At least I know unicorns are real. I’m not so sure about love but, I’ll toast it with you. To love, and springtime,” said James lifting his glass and touching it to Andy’s. “I loved a woman once, but I didn’t know it. She was a Vampire of singular beauty and oddness. Nights with her were nothing but passion. We had a link between our souls where I gave and she received. Physically she gave and I received. I assumed she liked it, but then she left made a lot of bad choices. I wanted to be the only bad choice but I wasn’t. Then she told me to make a good choice and I didn’t pick her. I should have. She never contacted me. I assume that she assumed that I was with somebody else, and she would be right. But years passed, and I was with a lot of women I thought … well, I didn’t think. I never think. I really don’t care. I have fun. They have fun. But for some reason I’ve been thinking about her, and I know she knows.”
“Too late my friend,” said Andy. “It has been 112 years since you saw her. Do you really think she thinks about you?”
“No, but as long as I’m thinking about love. Actually I never think about love. But the wine is good tonight. Thanks.”
“You tried to seduce my sister once.”
“I tried to seduce your sister about a dozen times. It never worked but it was fun trying.”
“James, my friend, I’ve loved. I’ve felt her soul leave her body when she died in my arms. Alas I fall for mortal women, but you…you act so uncaring, yet, you do want that romance. You want perfection. You want something your heart can’t comprehend.”
James shrugged and opened the French doors leading to the garden. “I need some air.”
At 2:00 a.m. they could hear the song of a mocking bird in a tree down the block. They could hear the sound of a random car. They heard the quiet of a cool March evening.
“You hungry?” Andy asked, “We could order in.”
“No,” said James. “I don’t feel like it tonight. I’d rather go out, or just skip dinner altogether.”
“You’re always so crass and funny. What’s up with the somber lovelorn guy act?”
“I don’t know Andy. Maybe it’s the full moon. Maybe I’m just feeling my age.”
“Maybe you should look her up.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“Nothing. Married. Children. Her husband is a big time alpha Vampire guy. No. There are others. She was just one. So I move on. But it isn’t a bad thing.”
“You’re right. It isn’t a bad thing.”
James looked up at the night sky, searching for stars that were hidden by the urban lights.
On the edge of the fence pixies in tiny gossamer dresses walked in single file, their wings folded up on their tiny backs. The whispered among each other about lost loves and fools. Then they giggled in unison as glittering dust fell on the ground below them.
Andy glanced at them, but then turned his attention back to his friend, and the conversation changed to everything but love, romance, and most of all the women they’d known, and maybe loved.
~ End
First posted here in 2016
Vampire Maman 