he was guiding me home. It seemed strange to think of Sebastian as ‘home’ but I realized it was appropriate enough. I felt more at ease and comfortable with him than I did in my own house. How strange that I felt like that already when I’d known him for only such a short period of time. I suppose some things just happen that way.
I parked my car in a metered lot as close to the harbor as I could get. I hesitated again at the meter, wondering how long I should pay for. I eventually purchased a day pass – better to overestimate, I decided. I remembered to pay in cash too, knowing well that my mother would be checking my visa and debit accounts to see where I had been today.
Although it was only 9:30 in the morning, the city streets were already bustling with Christmas shoppers, tourists and the ever-present homeless and panhandlers. I carefully averted my eyes from the vagabonds, feigning deafness when they asked for money or cigarettes. The homeless weren’t the only ones who paid attention to me. As I walked past a café patio, several of the male patrons eyed me appreciatively. I quickened my pace, feeling an increasing need to be near Sebastian. His presence was calming to me. I always seemed to feel like I was safe with him – no matter how confusing or strange he could be. I felt as if nothing could possibly go wrong as long as I was by his side. It was an inexplicable certainty.
Seagulls swirled overhead against the thin grey clouds. Their cries were drowned out by the wind and the noises of the busy city streets. As I approached the inner harbor, a medley of sounds and sights assaulted my senses. I could smell the salt of the ocean on the frigid breeze, street vendors called out their wares over the bustling crowd, the sounds of different performers blended into one another along the harbor walk, the enticing smells of coffee, popcorn and hotdogs laced through the air. I could feel my excitement slowly building, bubbling up inside of me in anticipation. This was a side to the city I’d never been permitted to partake in, never been allowed to really experience – until today.
I hurried over to the wide cement stairway that led down to the harbor from the street. The crowds were even thicker below alongside the water. I wove my way through the crowds of tourists, and families with young children, their excited smiles matching my own and their eyes alight with the same joyful innocence that I felt. I searched the faces, scanning the crowds for the familiar messy, blackish-blue hair, for a pair of mysterious eyes with long dark lashes, perfectly shaped lips and smooth cheeks. I knew Sebastian was waiting for me somewhere nearby and I felt strangely anxious to find him. Search as I might though, he was nowhere to be found.
It was nearly 10:20 am and I’d walked up and down the length of the harbor twice. A few times I’d been distracted – there were displays of hand-made jewelry, an exciting juggling act and an artist sketching caricatures that had attracted my attention but never for longer than a few moments. And yet still, I’d seen no sign of Sebastian. I was starting to feel doubtful. Maybe he’d decided it was a bad idea to be friends after all. Was I wrong in coming here today? Was it too late to turn back?
I could hear the sounds of someone playing flamenco guitar. I drifted towards the fast-paced, intricate melody without thinking. The notes were coming so fast, I imagined the musician’s fingers must be flying on the strings. The mental image the music was creating began to distract me from my doubts. My attention had been caught again as something in my body, perhaps in my soul, responded to the music. The beautiful playing pulled me in.
It was easy to see where the music was coming from. There was a thick crowd nearby, the source of the intricate melody unseen at its center. I paused on the outskirts of the crowd, reluctant to rudely push my way forward. The music beckoned to me though,
I parked my car in a metered lot as close to the harbor as I could get. I hesitated again at the meter, wondering how long I should pay for. I eventually purchased a day pass – better to overestimate, I decided. I remembered to pay in cash too, knowing well that my mother would be checking my visa and debit accounts to see where I had been today.
Although it was only 9:30 in the morning, the city streets were already bustling with Christmas shoppers, tourists and the ever-present homeless and panhandlers. I carefully averted my eyes from the vagabonds, feigning deafness when they asked for money or cigarettes. The homeless weren’t the only ones who paid attention to me. As I walked past a café patio, several of the male patrons eyed me appreciatively. I quickened my pace, feeling an increasing need to be near Sebastian. His presence was calming to me. I always seemed to feel like I was safe with him – no matter how confusing or strange he could be. I felt as if nothing could possibly go wrong as long as I was by his side. It was an inexplicable certainty.
Seagulls swirled overhead against the thin grey clouds. Their cries were drowned out by the wind and the noises of the busy city streets. As I approached the inner harbor, a medley of sounds and sights assaulted my senses. I could smell the salt of the ocean on the frigid breeze, street vendors called out their wares over the bustling crowd, the sounds of different performers blended into one another along the harbor walk, the enticing smells of coffee, popcorn and hotdogs laced through the air. I could feel my excitement slowly building, bubbling up inside of me in anticipation. This was a side to the city I’d never been permitted to partake in, never been allowed to really experience – until today.
I hurried over to the wide cement stairway that led down to the harbor from the street. The crowds were even thicker below alongside the water. I wove my way through the crowds of tourists, and families with young children, their excited smiles matching my own and their eyes alight with the same joyful innocence that I felt. I searched the faces, scanning the crowds for the familiar messy, blackish-blue hair, for a pair of mysterious eyes with long dark lashes, perfectly shaped lips and smooth cheeks. I knew Sebastian was waiting for me somewhere nearby and I felt strangely anxious to find him. Search as I might though, he was nowhere to be found.
It was nearly 10:20 am and I’d walked up and down the length of the harbor twice. A few times I’d been distracted – there were displays of hand-made jewelry, an exciting juggling act and an artist sketching caricatures that had attracted my attention but never for longer than a few moments. And yet still, I’d seen no sign of Sebastian. I was starting to feel doubtful. Maybe he’d decided it was a bad idea to be friends after all. Was I wrong in coming here today? Was it too late to turn back?
I could hear the sounds of someone playing flamenco guitar. I drifted towards the fast-paced, intricate melody without thinking. The notes were coming so fast, I imagined the musician’s fingers must be flying on the strings. The mental image the music was creating began to distract me from my doubts. My attention had been caught again as something in my body, perhaps in my soul, responded to the music. The beautiful playing pulled me in.
It was easy to see where the music was coming from. There was a thick crowd nearby, the source of the intricate melody unseen at its center. I paused on the outskirts of the crowd, reluctant to rudely push my way forward. The music beckoned to me though,
Similar Books
