I pace the room a hundred times; I wear a hole in the floor. I pick up my phone and put it down again. Pick it up and put it down. Look at the time – thirty seconds after I last looked at the clock.
Sit down. Stand up. I'm too agitated, wondering where you are and what's taking you so damn long. Our flight leaves in two hours. One hour. A half hour. Our flight's been delayed. Look at the time – twenty-five seconds after I last looked at the clock.
My friends try to comfort me but I'm not having any of it. Instead my frustration mounts and I have to bite my lip to refrain from taking it out on some innocent bystander. I'll let you have it when you get here. One more hour. Two more hours. I'll give you what you deserve. Two and a half hours. Three. Look at the time…
The vibrating of my cell phone sends a shock through my body. I raise the phone to my ear… your voice, distorted by miles of static, floats through the invisible line.
"Something came up. I'm going to be late. You go on ahead… I'll catch the next flight and meet you there."
The anger boiling inside me suddenly ebbs away, completely out of my control, despite my former determination and this perfect opportunity to give you a piece of my mind. Never mind the hours that went by. Frustration takes over. Desperation. Tears prick at my eyes.
"No, Jeff… I'll wait for you."
An hour goes by. My friends leave without me. I can't read the expression on Shane's face as he takes his bag from me, walks through the gate. I buy new tickets for another flight. I resume pacing. I look out the window. It's getting dark outside so all I can see is my own reflection.
What world do you live in, what mystery, closed-off world allows you to completely throw away time, to completely disregard the effect time has on the rest of the world… on us? Where do you go, Jeff? How are you so disconnected? Why do I feel as if I'm being pulled in?
I won't go. I'll resist. I can't live in your fantasy world, can't accept the unreality of a timeless space. You can't take me with you. You can't. I'll resist, Jeff. I won't give in.
I'm staring through my reflection. I don't see a figure approaching me from behind. Don't realize you're there until the hand comes down on my shoulder and turns me around. Don't realize you're late once your arms wrap around my waist and pull me close. Don't remember where we are once your lips close over mine.
I'm caught in the moment. Everything dissolves… time has stopped.
I've given in. I won't resist.