I found her on a long road. It stretched through the gaslit city and our lips met in shadow. Her hands were on fire and the flames licked her tattooed arms.
I pointed to a corner cafe and asked if she wanted coffee. She replied with a “Peh” and kissed me again. She opened her palm and grasped my hand to lead me in. My hand was melting but I didn’t mind.
-I thought you didn’t want coffee.
-You’re too serious. I was joking.
The cafe was like a womb; Warm, empty and dark. We saw fine as her hands were still burning. The waitress was made of stiff lace, her doily lips smiled and she kept her distance. Of course we would burn her alive if she got too close to us. We got coffee and decided to draw on each other’s arms. She kissed her fingers and then mine, the flames went out.
She drew blue lines on the soft underside of my right arm. Shapes flowering around themselves and dotting out into little pearls. Before I could take my pen to her arm the coffee came. She fixed hers with sugar, I left mine black. We stared for a moment into our coffee reflections.
-We look like old photographs.
-We look like suns.
I tried then, very carefully, to tell her I had to leave. All I could see was her long black hair and all I could say was:
-Did you miss me?
Somehow I knew she wouldn’t be here long because she wasn’t around much the first time. She raised her cup to her perfect swollen lips and sipped slowly.
-Remember when we went out on that ancient boat… and you tried to sink a candle to prove the flame wouldn’t go out… and instead you lost the whole damn thing?
-Yeah…
-I missed you then.
The lace waitress came back and I noticed her legs were stained. She saw we needed no refills and left with a sigh of relief. I began to itch my hand. The hand she held and burned.
-You really fucked my hand up.
-This coffee is really good. You should have some.
-What are you doing here?
-Drinking coffee with you.
-Why did you come back?
-This is where I like to come in the winter.
-Why did you kiss me?
She then said, so quietly, so focused and clear:
-This, here… is why I don’t miss you.
