Unpoetic Things

Chapter 1 Altitude and solitude

I've traveled around the world and my feet have barely touched the ground.

I stared down at my journal, trying to remember having written that. I must have dozed off for a minute. I had a taste of Paris air this morning before I was shuffled between the subway, the airport and its tunnels, and then the plane for most of the day. Then it was only a few seconds between the Uber and the steps up to the apartment I share with my oldest friend.

"I'm heading to bed." Vincent said, leaving me in front of the TV that I wasn't watching anyway. He always went to bed exactly at 11; nothing had changed in the year I was gone for my exchange program in France. He paused at the door to his room. "You're staying up? You look exhausted, Jonah."

"Yeah, it's all part of my plan to avoid jet lag..." I lied carelessly. The truth was I couldn't be bothered to move from where I was wedged between some couch cushions.

Vincent shrugged. On queue, he reminded me not to leave the TV on all night, as he disappeared behind his bedroom door. I slouched, alternating my gaze between two screens, constantly failing to stop myself from checking Marina's online profiles, and asking myself why I was doing this to myself. Marina lounging on the beach in the radiant sunshine, Marina on a dimly lit street wearing white, Marina and I coming into focus in a crowded bar. Marina... I exited her profile and was briefly rewarded by a flurry of images of people I was following but barely knew. Before long, one of her friends had posted a photo of her. This time she was standing with a group of four people, but I only recognized two of them. Who were they? I could barely resist the urge to click their names, as if this would be the way to make sense of everything.

This had to stop. So, I paced the apartment, trying to be quiet. I stepped onto the balcony, wondering if it was too cold for a walk to clear my head. The apartment was 30 floors up and the city was distant but more alive than anything observed from cruising altitude. Still, I needed to walk, feel connected to the earth, the city, anything but her. I gripped the ledge, suddenly dizzy from my thoughts and a brand new fear of heights.

Up here, you could die from the altitude alone.

I scribbled onto a page, ripped it out, and the wind took it from my hand. It faltered, then descended. Inside the apartment, I flicked the TV off, and resolved to go for a walk. But as soon as I entered my room to find a jacket, I lost to the temptation to sit on my bed and refresh Instagram again. I lay down and closed my eyes, just for a minute, and then....

Hours later, I woke up suddenly, shocked by what I recalled. Mostly I remembered the sense of comfort and peace, nothing like the feelings that had been following me since I said goodbye to Marina. In my dream, I had my head on someone's shoulder, but it wasn't her, I could tell even without looking. The energy was different. An arm around me and a hand trailing over my hair. His other hand resting on my leg. Strong, but gentle. I only briefly saw his face, because we were in a dimly lit room and anyway I was mostly studying his hand as I took it in mine.

My journal was open on his lap to the page I had ripped out, but this time the journal was whole, and there was a new line. As I ascended to alertness, I heard him clearly reading, "Down here, I try to face the solitude I've known." I kept my eyes closed, trying to hold onto the dream's sensations for as long as I could, but the stranger was already a ghost.

Chapter 2: Sleep doesn't fix this

Now more fully awake, unwanted mental images of Marina came back. I promised myself I'd do a factory reset on my phone and only re-download absolutely essential apps. No more Instagram.

But I knew I didn't need to see the photos to remember her. She was burned into my mind like staring at the sun. One of the photos I had seen a few hours ago (and lived just days before) took over my thoughts. Our last night together. I had taken the picture just before the sun rose behind her, so the tips of her red hair were crowned in gold. She was propped up on one elbow, laughing at something I'd said. I told her how beautiful she was, and without warning picked her up and I carried her with me until I was waist deep in the ocean. It was still pretty dark, but the water wasn't cold. This part of the beach was secluded, and anyway, it's not like we could help ourselves. I took a few more steps into the dark and shimmering currents to where I could stand with the water up to my shoulders, but Marina had to either float or tip-toe to stay above water.

I looked around at the dark cottages in the distance of the French countryside, to the rocky beach where we had left our things, and the dark blue sky that slowly lightened. Marina had slipped her navy blue bathing suit straps off her shoulders and looked up at me in a way I could never resist. Her heavy, cream coloured breasts were floating slightly in the water, straining against the thin material. Her body enticed something else to defy gravity underwater.... I spun Marina around, holding her tight against my body. My cock pressed against the warm curve of her lower back. I held her so her head and neck remained above water. Marina instinctively tried to swim, but she relaxed into my grip, wondering what I'd do next. I dropped a kiss on the back of her head and let her hold onto my arm as I traced over all her curves with my other hand...down her sides, up her thighs, across her lower belly.

Marina quivered with need. She was moving her hips, which fueled my desire, but did nothing for her. Her frustration grew as she tried to find a way to both stay afloat and also spare a hand for her own pleasure. The waves guided us to a collection of large rocks rising from the ocean, blue-grey in the evanescent dawn. She sat on the edge of an underwater rock so she could wrap her legs around my waist. She leaned into me then, and we kissed like time would stop.

In reality, my pulse was increasing at the memory. I kicked off the jeans and T shirt I had accidentally fallen asleep in, which were increasingly uncomfortable with my growing erection. Now free of the restrictive material, my shaft was resisting the material of my boxers. I impatiently slid them off as well and kicked them aside, then sat up against the pillows. I closed my eyes again and decided to make up for how I had played with Marina's desires. I rubbed a hand down my hard stomach, up my smooth inner thigh... but I couldn't take much more. I found a comfortable hold and felt the friction disappear as precum covered my palm. I returned to the memory. Marina gazing into my eyes in the now-saturated sunlight, clinging to me, kissing me. Then, her eyes locked on mine, my hands on her hips...pushing into her.

Then I caught the reflection of myself in the mirror and grimaced, immediately losing interest, and instead becoming deeply aware of how pathetic I was. Instead of finishing, I flicked the lamp on and scribbled down the words that that day had composed through me. I hadn't had a chance to write them down until now.

White noise when the wave dies

Your hair wet, your long strides

White sheets, and the sun dries

Your worn-out form

By my side

But she wasn't. And when I'd whispered the poem into Marina's wet hair later that morning, after our second round of lovemaking, she had shrugged me off. "Jonah, you'll be happier when you realize life isn't poetic like that." I had forgiven her instantly for this, telling myself she couldn't look at me because she was too sad that I needed to return home to New York. That was our last day in the cozy bed and breakfast together before she would take me to the airport.

Now, in the middle of the night, I was less generous. All I wanted was more sleep...mostly to avoid memories of her. I fumbled in my desk for the sleeping pills I hadn't needed all year. It's only once, I rationalized. I only slept a few hours tonight. If I was honest, I wanted to sleep for as long as possible.

Chapter 3: An Unfulfilled Kiss

The next morning was a mess. More accurately, I was a mess. I slept until around 10am but the pills wouldn't wear off, and I couldn't get up, even when Vincent knocked to ask me something. I mumbled something in the affirmative, and let the blankets pull me into oblivion where there was only blackness, and no... what was her name again?

But where Marina wasn't, that stranger was. This time there was no mysterious dialogue or wholesome touches. This time, I could remember more of his features, especially his dark eyes that tilted up mischievously at the edges, and were shadowed beneath his brow. When he looked at me, I felt it in my pelvic muscles, contracting, impulsively pulling me closer to him. He was within reach, and my fingertips pressed against his severe cheekbone, then his short beard. His hand rested securely on the back of my neck. He was smiling as my magnetized body inched closer. But before I could kiss him, I whispered "Who are you anyway? What do you want from me?" He looked confused for a minute and then...

Here I was in my bed, my frustration doubled from last night. I was really awake now but I wasn't thinking as I rhythmically got myself off. My right hand worked up and down until I could barely prolong the inevitable. The fingertips of my left hand absently pressed against my lips, recalling an unfulfilled kiss. I rolled onto my side, and pressed my knuckles against my lips to remind me not to moan out loud. I breathed curses as my thumb accidentally brushed over my sensitive tip, and then I started to come. I rolled my hips slowly and thrusted against my hand for as long as I could bear, trying to be quiet, and of course hoping my uncontrollable moans and the slick rubbing and thumping sounds were as close enough to silence to be inaudible.

I shivered and as soon as I recovered, I forced myself to get out of bed to shower. After the shower, I still looked disheveled. Pale, and my hair was a lost cause. At least I could stay in today, right? But when I opened my bedroom door, Vincent and our friends Lila and Calvin were waiting for me in the living room.

"Ah, Jonah, finally." Vincent's formal tones usually amused me, but today I had to conceal slight annoyance. "We were wondering if you'd like to go to the museum today."

"Uh," I tried to think of an excuse quickly. "I actually have to..." I ran a hand through my hair and avoided their eager eye contact.

Lila raised an eyebrow. "Have to what? Jonah, you have to get out of the house. It's been three days."

"I'm recovering from a journey-" I pretended not to look confused at the passage of time.

"A breakup," she interrupted. "Yes, we know. Anyway, you're worrying Vincent."

I didn't have a chance to figure out how they all knew this, but guessed it had something to do with social media. "Uh, yeah, okay, just let me..."

My journal clattered to the ground and opened to a random page. What if it was always as dark as behind my eyes? I cringed, snapping it closed quickly.

"We made you breakfast," Vincent added. "And we're leaving in half an hour."

"No more poetry," Calvin decreed with a smile, pretending to be strict.

I rolled my eyes and gave him my signature grin. But my heart wasn't in it.

45 minutes later we were in the great halls of a cavernous science and natural history museum. From what I could gather, in the time that I had been away, Calvin and Lila had fallen from grace as the power couple we all aspired to. Their relationship had developed a few cracks that were discernible even from being around them for the day. Lila left Calvin to trail behind with Vincent, and tried to get me to talk about my "European Adventures." When they fell behind to try a flight simulator, Lila revealed to me that they had broken up more than once while I was away. I was shocked, and I told her my faith in love was a little bit shaken. "If you can't make it work, no one can."

Lila looked at the floor. "That's a lot of pressure, Jonah..."

When we first met in first year of university, Vincent had let it slip that he heard she kind of had a thing for me, and since then I had occasionally let myself wonder what might have happened if Calvin had never asked her out. I'd been friends with her first, and I obviously, guiltily, still found her extremely cute. She was very unlike Marina. But why was I comparing them?

Lila had changed the subject and even though she was asking me questions, I somehow managed to get by with mostly listening, and directing my attention at the exhibits. I answered Lila's questions about the French food, sightseeing, and literature; while she caught me up on the university gossip. But later, when we stopped for lunch, my jetlag started catching up with me. This social situation was clearly too complex for my current state. I clammed up even more to avoid putting my foot in my mouth and more than once I second-guessed if Lila's attention was still merely friendly.

I took the first excuse I found- the rain- to ditch my friends, who wanted to continue to an art museum. "The science museum was closer to home...there was another exhibit I wanted to check out quickly, and then I'll head back home to rest before the rain gets worse."

I was already crossing the street before they had a chance to protest too much.

"I guess he just needs to be alone," I heard Lila say to Calvin as she grabbed his hand. See, I was completely paranoid and off about everything. Stupid. I watched as her small athletic body retreated into the distance.

Vincent muttered, "This was for his benefit anyway. Maybe we should try the art museum another day."

"Sorry! You guys are the best." I waved and then disappeared back into the crowded museum lobby.

Chapter Four: What's the point in beauty?

I wasn't even planning on following through with my excuse, just getting close enough to the museum that my friends wouldn't keep watching. But, momentum led me to the doors, and the attendant recognized me and waved me through. I wandered around aimlessly, my gaze distractedly passing over dinosaur bones and ancient pots with equal disinterest. I told myself there was no reason to feel guilty for ditching them. They had dragged me into this anyway.

My phone buzzed several times. It was Lila texting me.

Jonah, call me. It's urgent.

I dialed without thinking. "Lila?"

"Hey...."

"What is it? What happened?"

"It's...me and Calvin. We..." She didn't finish her sentence.

"Oh no. Did you break up?" If I sounded hopeful, she didn't notice.

"No, it's...We just agreed to open our relationship."

"You what? Is he there now?" I ducked into a corner of the museum hall, whispering.

"No. Anyway... I was wondering if you want to come over."

I paused. "What do you mean? Me?" Why was I ruining this for myself. I admit I had fantasized about something like this for as long as I'd known her, but this didn't feel like I thought it would.

Lila sighed.

I couldn't stop myself from talking. "That's just ridiculous. This whole thing is going to be a disaster... Does he know you're asking me?"

"Jonah, forget Cal. This is between you and me."

"Forget him? How can I? He would kill me if he knew."

"No. He said it could be anyone."

I covered my face with my hand. "Lila...stop it now."

She hung up.

I was angry, but mostly at myself. Lila was beautiful, and I couldn't believe I had just passed up a supposedly guilt-free opportunity to sleep with her. But what was the point of all that beauty if it could never really be mine? I imagined her throwing me out and my clothes after me like in the movies, before embracing Calvin, the man she really loved. This was just a last-ditch attempt to spice things up before they inevitably fell apart. I had made the right choice. She would break up with him for real next time, and then maybe she could really be mine...

That was when I heard a familiar voice. I found myself walking down a spiral staircase towards the sound.

"So, you're floating through space when you feel you're being pulled off course. What do you think could be happening?"

I entered the dark Planetarium and ducked into a chair. The handsome bearded man who was speaking looked at me and nodded, then scanned the room for a raised hand.

"There's a large planet or star in your path? Because of...gravity?" someone said. The audience was mostly teenagers. I sunk down in my chair, and wondered why the speaker seemed so familiar.

"Very good. Don't listen to the siren song of a beautiful planet. But what if there were no large celestial bodies nearby?" He had an accent, and it sounded like he was careful to pronounce his words. For some reason, it calmed me.

Of course...My dream came back to me and suddenly I couldn't sit still. How was this happening? Was I still dreaming? No...

A girl solemnly raised her hand. "A black hole?"

"Exactly." The incredibly handsome man continued his presentation. "Massive celestial bodies can cause objects to veer off their path, and even send them into orbit. This may be catastrophic, but maybe not. However, black holes are so dense that if you get too close to the current, you'll never return.... Any questions?"

We all stared in awe at the simulation, and I let the man's voice pull me into a trance until the exhibit ended and the lights came on. The audience members blinked, dazed, and slowly filed out of the room.

I stayed in my seat, transfixed by deja vu and wonderment.

The man packed up his things, straightened the chairs and gradually made his way to the back of the room where I sat frozen. Up close, his dark eyes disarmed me.

He smiled at me, relaxed, apparently oblivious to my confusion. "Hey. Did you have a question?"

"Yeah, uh..." I decided to say the first thing that came to mind. "What's it like being a..."

"Volunteer Space Educator?" The kind smile never left his eyes. "It gets dark and lonely in this basement, if I'm honest. But don't get me wrong, I love it. I can say crazy things all afternoon, but they're true. And if only for a moment I can see wonder in people's eyes... like they realize they're part of something they have never tried to understand. But it's only a part-time gig until I can get more research hours... Oh, how could you let me go on about myself like that?"

I laughed quietly, unsure what to say next. I wasn't expecting this man with the serious eyes to be so jovial.

He swiftly took a seat in front of me. "Something is troubling you."

"Just...having some intense feelings of deja vu."

The man raised his eyebrows. "I tend to have that effect on people. My name's Jakob, and whatever it is, I didn't do it." I glimpsed a smirk at the corners of his mouth. He studied me. "But wait, there's something else, isn't there." His voice was low and comforting.

I couldn't tell him about the dreams, even though I desperately wanted to know what he would say. "I'm Jonah. Oh, and it's, uh, nothing... a breakup. And she said something that bothered me right before I had to leave, about how I am naïve enough to think everything will make sense in the end, or that poetry was reality. That I'm making myself unhappy. I don't know. I loved her. Now I kind of hate her when I remember things like that. I feel pathetic."

Jakob shook his head sadly. "Love is a dark shadow on the universe, so I avoid it when I can. You look confused....Think of it this way. Remember my bit about the black holes? I, for one, would like to move through life in a straight line. That's only possible if you..."

"Never... get... close." But somehow, now, just like in my dream, I sensed we were being pulled together by forces unknown.

"I feel it too," he whispered, reading my mind. I stood and I took his hand, then he led me to the stage which was under slowly rotating model planets, and a domed ceiling depicting the universe. In the background, intricate violin music I hadn't noticed until now swelled. We lay on our backs looking straight up, definitely not at each other. The only things touching were our forearms, wrists, and the sides of our hands. The indigo light stained our skin.