Substantial Emotions
Travis FlynnSo there I hid, in the corner of a room of baking bread, filled with anticipation. I had sent her the invite—I found the most reliable messenger I could afford—but still I worried she would not show. I knew this would happen. I knew it. Every time I try to be creative and romantic, she loses interest. This is the last time I try to do something special for Valentines Day. Oh, wait. Here she comes. Stay down. Quiet.
She turns the door handle and carefully enters the room. After a moment, she makes her way to an oven, takes out a piece of bread, and taps it with her knuckles. He remains in the corner.
I can't imagine why she is tapping the loaf of bread, but her rhythm is beginning to pull me into a trance. It is as if her knuckles were made for the loaf of bread, and my ears for that sound.
As the music fades, he becomes curious and shifts his position so that he can see her from behind the counter. She appears startled, but then continues her devotion.
As she rubs her hands along the bread, I can remember the time we spent together, alone in the garden, memorizing each other's hands before sharing a tomato and slurping up the stray juices.
As he loses himself in fantasy, she plucks a small piece off the loaf and drops it into her mouth while she continues to stroke the bread…
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