“So you two see who you want?”

“Shane……”

“Carmen I am trying to understand things…..”

“So are we….”

“I am sorry about your baby.”

“I was young it was a long time ago…..those things happen.”

Time just slips away……

The world passes by in dully lit haze.

We stop in front of her home. The lights where on, a Porsche in the driveway. I tell the cabbie to leave the meter running. She types in her code and the gate opens. We walk a little, away from the cab, our steps making that old time sound on the cobble stoned driveway. The crickets and cicadas humming away. I look up and see black night. She moves to take my hand and we walk on this hidden path lost in the forest she has around her house.

We kiss and there are not enough ways to describe it. Maybe a little electrifying, maybe a little mind bending….mostly frantic and very passionate. The cabbie honks and we laugh. She walks me back to the cab and she closes the gate. And we where officially going round and round for each other. The gate clangs shut and she turned to walk away. I grab her arm through the wrought iron fence and I pull her to me. Both hands on the gate as we kiss like we will never ever again have this moment.

“I’ll see you soon.” she whispers in my mouth, I could have added not soon enough but I said nothing. I watch her go and I think about sleeping……back in the cab. A ride back to my house and I laugh to myself about how she stuck me with the fare. And I think again of Humphrey Bogart and that movie…..god if only I could remember the name……..

Tip paid cabbie is happy I walk on my way. My feet climbing the stairs, my mind on Carmen. I thought about how everything was so fast. I thought about the idea that I never really felt before. I thought about how crazy it was that we met. More than once seemingly on this collision course with each other. I stopped in front of my door I wished we had more time. Key in the lock, turn. Mom and dad looking kinda upset. Watching some late movie in each others arms kinda stretched out on my sofa. My dad sees me first and he looks alarmed…..