We Meet At Night -- An Original Story (Part 1)

Laying here in the dark covered in a cold sweat. The moonlight glowing upon me from the open window to my right. I can see it is almost full as I gaze out to the star-lit night sky. I wipe the sweat from my brow before reaching over to the nightstand for my smokes. With my left hand I bring the pack to my mouth and slide out a cigarette with my teeth. I then produce a match with my right hand and strike it across the headboard post.

I take in a deep first drag before shaking out the flame and tossing the used match onto the floor. As I exhale, I try and materialize her face as best I can in my minds eye. It all starts to come back to me, as it does every single time following our encounter. Her hair a dark, coal like shade that she sometimes wears in a pony-tail. Her eyes a deep, dark shade of Pacific Blue. Her smile is a smile that can bring out the best in any man's heart. If ever there was a face that could truly launch a thousand ships, hers would be it. Yet for some reason she always comes to me. I cannot begin to know why I was chosen or for what reason, yet, I truly do not care. The only thing I truly know is that I love her and that is enough.

I love her and I have loved her from our very first meeting, so many years ago. I remember that night so vividly, even to this day. Before I get to that though, let me explain something very big. Me and this Beauty I am describing have never actually met in the waking world. I have actually never met any woman who has come even close to matching her in any way, shape or form. We meet at night instead.

We meet at the same location and we have had many moments through these years. Not only that but we have also both aged together through our dream encounters. We went from adolescent youths, through our peak as young adults all the way up to now. Through all of this, we have never lost one bit of longing for each other. Now let me get back to that first encounter we shared so long ago..

I was fifteen or sixteen and going through a very large heartbreak. My girlfriend at the time had just left me for my best friend and my heart and ambition was completely deflated. I remember laying in bed that night, questioning everything about myself and losing all faith in everything I held dear to me. As I quietly wept in the darkness of my room, I finally somehow drifted off to sleep.

The first part of the dream I recollect is the usual start to all of these precious encounters. I find myself gliding across a brightly lit city at night from a thousand feet in the air. Arms outstretched to each side, I fly through the night while occasionally glancing upwards torwards the moon and stars shining ever so brilliantly. I then return my focus to the city below and start my descent. All the while feeling the cool night air brushing against me as I go.

I start to get low enough to make out what few people are out and about this late at night. Finally I am only twenty or so feet from the ground and a large fluorescent sign catches my eye as I float down to the surface. The sign reads "Open Twenty Four Hours" and it is the sign to a diner. My feet touch the ground on the sidewalk to the entrance. I glance into the window before making my way inside and notice all of the retro decor.

The black and white tiles, the large jukebox glowing orange and red, and the very long counter top with what must be 25 or 30 stools all the way across the front of it. I enter the diner and hear a loud jingle from the welcoming bells hanging above the entrance.

As I walk up to the bar, I see only two or three other individuals. An older gentleman, maybe 60 or 70 years of age, sitting at the far end of the bar to my left. A young guy, maybe 19 or 20, sweeping in the corner to the right of the front door close to the jukebox. Lastly, I see the cook/waiter, in a white and red striped uniform, wiping off a plate behind the bar to the right. He looks up and with a soft smile tells me to take a load off and he will be right with me in a jiffy!

I make my way to a stool and hop into it before picking up the menu in front of me. I must admit that through all of these dreams, I have never actually paid attention to what is on the menu. Instead, I notice a few of the different pictures of dishes, a cheeseburger and shake, hot dog and fries, and a big picture of a come float with the words "sure to float your boat" written underneath. So I put down the menu and as the cook arrives and asks me what it will be, I ask him for a burger and a coke. He smiles that warm smile again and tells me "Sure thing my friend, one burger and coke coming right up"! He then grabs a glass hanging from above, drops it into his other hand and in a flash he runs it into the ice tray and pours out a fountain coke before sliding it in front of me!

He than turns to his left and heads back into the kitchen. I pick up the soda and take a drink and it is hands down the best Coca-Cola I have ever tasted in my life! Before I know it, I am down to the last drop. Before I can even look up to ask for a refill, I see a plate being placed in front of me with what looks like a cheeseburger straight from an advertisement. Steam rolling off the top of it and an aroma that brought every single tastebud in my mouth completely reeling! He looks at me and says "Enjoy it my friend!" and follows that with his quick hands one more time as he refills my pop for me before heading back into the kitchen area.

I then consume the entire burger and soda in what seemed like one second. I cannot believe how amazing they both taste. As if my whole life I had been eating nothing but tasteless mush in the shape of food. I had no idea that you could actually taste anything inside of a dream. This entire moment so far was absolutely perfect. As I sat there completely full and satisfied, the cook came back through the door once more and before I could say a word he says "I see you enjoyed everything my man! Don't worry about anything, this one was on the house! I'm glad you enjoyed it and if you find room for dessert just give me a holler! We've got the best Apple Pie the next 5 cities over".

I told him I really appreciated it and he smiled and said "I Know" and then he went back into the kitchen. I than sat back in the stool and took in all that was going on around me and I smiled very deeply. After a moment or so I then heard the jingaling of the door bells but I didn't even bother turning around. I could make out light footsteps behind me, followed by a quarter falling into the jukebox. Following this I heard the song "Lightning Strikes" by Lou Christie start playing and the footsteps coming closer from behind.

Finally I turned as this person made it to the bar at my right. My heart dropped and I almost fell out of my stool when I seen that face and her eyes locked with mine. It was something I have never felt before. If love at first sight does exist then it isn't even strong enough of a term to describe what I was feeling! This was something on a whole other level. It was as if my entire existence was now complete by this girls presence.

She smiled at me as she sat back in her stool and then pulled her purse up and sat it on the counter in front of her. That was the first time I laid eyes on her and what follows was the best night of my entire life..

To Be Continued..

#story
#writing
#love
#dream