The Beginning of Things
Written May 2009
I feel the heat of his body close to mine as we move around the dance floor, awkwardly shuffling from side to side amidst a sea of sweaty bodies. I have never two-stepped before… this is all new to me. His hand tightens around my back, pulling me close as he guides me to the right, and I blissfully breathe in his scent. Just the right mixture of earth and water, he smells like a freshly seeded field after a spring shower.
I catch a glimpse of my friend as she leans against the bar, eyeing me down enviously. She takes a sip of her fruity cocktail and runs her hand through her hair, desperate to catch the attention of any eligible bachelor. That is, after all, what we came for. Our eyes meet for only a second before she fades away into my periphery. He pulls me to the right and again I am overwhelmed by the feel of his strong arms, expertly guiding me between the other couples.
“How am I doing?” I ask, self conscious about my performance as an amateur.
“Perfect” He whispers, his soft lips brushing against my ear, and suddenly my knees feel weak. “Just hold on tight and follow me now.”
All of a sudden I am spinning, under his arms and around his back. The lights blur around me as his callused hand grasps mine, pushing me again and his the other side. I feel like I am falling backwards, as though I am going to crash into the person behind me and crumble on the floor, panting and defeated by the prematurity of my own dreams. But suddenly he is there, catching me again and I am in his arms, moving slowly to the beat of the banjo. I close my eyes and smile, unable to conceal the grin painted brightly on my face. My eyes glisten when I look up and see a grin painted even wider on his.
“Good job.” He whispers as he squeezes my hand, once again pulling me to the right. Fifteen months later and we are still dancing.
I feel the heat of his body close to mine as we move around the dance floor, awkwardly shuffling from side to side amidst a sea of sweaty bodies. I have never two-stepped before… this is all new to me. His hand tightens around my back, pulling me close as he guides me to the right, and I blissfully breathe in his scent. Just the right mixture of earth and water, he smells like a freshly seeded field after a spring shower.
I catch a glimpse of my friend as she leans against the bar, eyeing me down enviously. She takes a sip of her fruity cocktail and runs her hand through her hair, desperate to catch the attention of any eligible bachelor. That is, after all, what we came for. Our eyes meet for only a second before she fades away into my periphery. He pulls me to the right and again I am overwhelmed by the feel of his strong arms, expertly guiding me between the other couples.
“How am I doing?” I ask, self conscious about my performance as an amateur.
“Perfect” He whispers, his soft lips brushing against my ear, and suddenly my knees feel weak. “Just hold on tight and follow me now.”
All of a sudden I am spinning, under his arms and around his back. The lights blur around me as his callused hand grasps mine, pushing me again and his the other side. I feel like I am falling backwards, as though I am going to crash into the person behind me and crumble on the floor, panting and defeated by the prematurity of my own dreams. But suddenly he is there, catching me again and I am in his arms, moving slowly to the beat of the banjo. I close my eyes and smile, unable to conceal the grin painted brightly on my face. My eyes glisten when I look up and see a grin painted even wider on his.
“Good job.” He whispers as he squeezes my hand, once again pulling me to the right. Fifteen months later and we are still dancing.