Walking the dogs in the park today. A little chilly, but not too bad. I've had a bad day, and even though I don't smoke- I do.

So, there I am...walking around this abandoned park with night creeping nearer and nearer. The scene should frighten me, seeing as it happens with ease, but I'm relativly comfortable. I'm walking two hyper dogs at the same time and the leashes are tangled up but I don't really care.

I inhaled the nasty tobacco into my clean lungs once and felt sick. Figuring it wasn't worth it, I held the cigarette in my left hand and just let it burn. That way I could still feel like I'm smoking, but not actually put myself through the actual action of doing so. Justification- my favorite ego defence mechanism.

I'm walking around more and more, the dogs jumping over broken dead twigs when I look up to see him. Standing there looking so debonair and handsome. I wish I could hate him, I want to so bad- but I just can't. Why?

"Miss Thomas." Nodding with a hint of smile.

Oh Jesus, I thought, what the hell is he doing here? His eyes compliment me, and his words flirt, but it's a cliffhanger. I can feel his eyes blanket over my virgin body- he teases me with politeness. He seduces with threats.

"Hey..."

"Is that a cigarette in your hand, Miss Thomas? We don't smoke now do we?"

"Funny thing...I don't smoke. I hate it, and who are you to tell me what I can and can not do?"

Smiling, of course, but changing the subject. We talk about life and goals. We talk about music and animals. We talk about everything.

We talk and walk until I find myself back in the truck with one dog in my lap and the other in the passenger seat. Looking at him I say,

"It's a shame things are the way they are. We would be perfect for each other. Maybe if we would have met at a later date."

"Maybe Miss Thomas, maybe."

<-gordon & maroon->