Having collided, we couldn’t unpart so easily. We stood together in the downspot of light that guarded the theater entrance from wandering vagrants and exchanged soothing banalities. It was a gentle wrapping up of a harsh evening and I was in no hurry to end it, despite the dragging pull of weariness and the unavoidably early dawn that waited for me.
The yellow light brought out every shade of brown in Joshua’s eyes and I found myself voicing something I’d only thought before: “It should be your name that’s Sherry.”
He tilted his head, perplexed, a smile nonetheless coming to his lips, a smile that simply said, Whatever you’re going on about, I want to hear it.
“Your eyes have this depth to them, all these swirls of amber and mahogany. It’s like looking into the bottom of a glass before you drink from it.”
READ MORE
I stroked a hand across his cheek. Intoxicating, that was what I meant. His eyes were as heady as strong liquor. They drew me in where I might, clear-headed, never go.
“Nate?” Joshua stepped into me. His hand reached for my hip.
I bent my elbow, persuading his face closer, and tilted my head that fraction upwards that was necessary to compensate for his height. This was it then. Kiss the man. I wanted to, I wanted to, but those last few inches were so hard to cross.
The door to the theater flew open at my back and Pete, Repeat and Mikaela spilled out of it onto the sidewalk, too loud and occupying too much space. I dropped my hand, stepping backwards into Repeat who pushed against me, sending me forwards into Joshua again. Joshua put up his hands to catch me, a frown forming on his face, his hands not quite closing around me. It was suddenly and immensely quiet.
“Didn’t realize you and your boyfriend were having a moment,” Pete said.
“We were just leaving.” I turned my back on Joshua.
COLLAPSE 
