winter.

i deftly avoided walls of slow human traffic rushing towards me as i made my way towards the cinema. autumn has turned into winter and while still decidedly gentle there was an added sting to the air as i skipped, sidestepped, flew - to my destination. i wasn't late.

i was, in fact, fifteen minutes early.


there was magic in the air tonight, and i didn't mind the chill. i hastened so i could catch all the magic there was on my skin, with my breath, this magic that tasted like glittermints and rock and roll.

almost exactly like how it felt when you were here, just a few weeks ago, only it wasn't this cold. perhaps it was due to something scientific like actual temperaturial difference, given it was autumn then and winter now and the whole issue with global warming and the general unravelling of the natural scheme of things. or it could be magic, because i had your hand to hold and your eyes to smile into.

precisely because i had your hand to hold and your eyes to smile into. it was magic.

who believes in science, anyway?

but it's been too long since i last saw you.


i smiled at the memory of how you would tuck my one cold hand under your shirt to keep it warm while the other one's in my pocket - and dance a step as my icy fingers touched your skin; the cold, suave efficacy of how you moved to put yourself between the traffic and me when we crossed the streets... the way you seemed to want to wrap me in your arms and hold me and hold me forever -

have i told you that you made me blush all over, so hard at times that i thought i would bust a vessel?

no? well, i'm not about to.


i laughed in delight at the memory, possibly earning myself some looks from beer-guzzlers sitting outside bars. somebody cheered. i didn't turn to find out why.

instead i quickened my pace, held on to the delight and blinked away the suddenly blurring streetlights.

---
something i wrote for the same person, also almost exactly one year ago.