-c l o c k w o r k-
"Oh, how strongly grabs us
The secret plot of fate."
-A. Akhmatova
Like clockwork, he comes to his window. From the garden, Monsieur Otieno shouts that he is a clock, that every day at noon he shall come to Monsieur Essieu's window and shout that he is a clock. That he is a clock that is in love with Essieu! Essieu shuts his windows, drops the drapes, and makes sure the doors into his house are firmly locked.
Why is it that Otieno makes such a fuss about him? Yes… Otieno could enjoy how Essieu had scarlet hair even lovelier than Mademoiselle Marissa's, from down the street … and the pinstripe suits he always wore did help make the red pop… but! But! He was a man. Otieno was a man. Or maybe Otieno was a clock. The love would be twisted either way.
Even as Essieu shuts himself up into his room, his heart is speaking swiftly. 'You must wonder why… Why, why, why does Otieno shout of his undying love with such anger?' The foolish man might as well be cursing Essieu.
"I've loved you since the day my soul was born, before that even, and I will love you until God makes my soul perish! Can't you feel it too? Reach up and feel the chains, for we are bound by heart and mind! Whether either of us wishes that to be!" All of these words, sweet as they may sound on paper, were tossed out with venom when spoken in reality.
Essieu leaned against the wall of his room, listening to Monsieur Otieno's voice die down. 'By now, the neighbors are glancing over to see what all the ruckus is about,' Essieu thought sourly, green eyes narrowing. It just wasn't seen in their distract to have such public displays of affection, especially between odd couples. Everything should be in its proper place; stored and numbered and frozen.
The last thing Otieno said before he left at exactly 12:01 PM was always, "I love you, Axel." Chills would run down Essieu's arms when he said that, almost making him want to race down the stairs and into Otieno's waiting arms. Almost. Then Essieu remembered that love didn't exist between two men. Otieno was just lusting after him for reasons only devils knew.
And after he remembered that, Essieu remembered that his name was not Axel. Such a foolish man, that Otieno! Once he knew he was gone, Essieu drew the drapes back from his window and stared at the place where the blonde man once stood. To him, every cobblestone was scorched with where Otieno's boots, heavy and such a dark color for his pale skin tone, had touched them.
Essieu drew back and went to his bed, taking off his coat as he went. The mattress springs squeaked under his pressure when he sat down. "Foolishness," Essieu reassured himself, closed his eyes, and went to sleep—even though it was but 12:03 PM now.
Like clockwork, he comes to his window. Like clockwork, souls reach out into a muggy night to touch the palm of their mate.