July 16, 2006
he would like to believe that today, the third time they have crossed paths in a week, is a coincidence. time is always a coincidence - for him, for the world, always something waiting to happen, never happening.
their eyes meet but they never speak; speaking is their taboo. he hooks his thumb over his belt, tugs at it quickly, almost nervously. her collar is the epitome of her perfection, stiff and unflappable, like her countenance - carved out of stone, with the afternoon sunlight glinting against her tightened jaw.
she gazes at him coolly, her relentless stare just enough to make him shift his eyes fractionally away, to the place where her face joins her neck in a smooth, slick curve. belatedly, he realises that his heart is thumping out a Wagnerian rhythm, strong and clinical. he wishes that she would acknowledge his presence, wishes for the liquid, melting feeling of her hand in his; it must be a gratuitous coincidence.
she is indomitable, and he? the Tim of timidity.
as always, they allow themselves to brush past each other, no recognition, no revolution required. as always, their synonym for acquiesce.
their eyes meet but they never speak; speaking is their taboo. he hooks his thumb over his belt, tugs at it quickly, almost nervously. her collar is the epitome of her perfection, stiff and unflappable, like her countenance - carved out of stone, with the afternoon sunlight glinting against her tightened jaw.
she gazes at him coolly, her relentless stare just enough to make him shift his eyes fractionally away, to the place where her face joins her neck in a smooth, slick curve. belatedly, he realises that his heart is thumping out a Wagnerian rhythm, strong and clinical. he wishes that she would acknowledge his presence, wishes for the liquid, melting feeling of her hand in his; it must be a gratuitous coincidence.
she is indomitable, and he? the Tim of timidity.
as always, they allow themselves to brush past each other, no recognition, no revolution required. as always, their synonym for acquiesce.