Page 8 of Rome: The Ballerina

He speaks. I concluded, completely dismantled on the inside.

His voice was like silk, lacing the tracks playing in my earbuds. It was firm yet gentle. It was deep yet light. It was chaotic yet soothing. It was a dream and nightmare wrapped in one, because now that he’d spoken, it was my turn to do the same. Unfortunately, I had no words.

Just thoughts.

Just feelings.

Just concerns.

Just disbelief.

“Good morning,” he greeted.

“You’re real,” I whispered.

Silence plagued him. His perfect eyebrows and nose and mouth and lips contorted.

“I apologize, but I don–”

“Good morning,” I rushed out.

My nerves took a beating. Every part of me grew sensitive. And, while everything around us quieted, I could hear the hammering of my heart.

Around.

Around.

And, around.

Counter-clockwise.

I rubbed circles on my chest. Still, my adrenaline pumped furiously. In a desperate attempt to quiet my thoughts and settle my system, I resumed my stretches.

“Your first time?”

My AirPods weren’t the only pieces of mine in his possession. I doubted he had any idea how long he’d had my heart, although he was simply a figment of my imagination.

“Hm?” I asked for clarification while rotating my shoulders.

“Here. Is this your first time here?”

With a nod, I responded, “It is.”

“You look square business.”

“Excuse me?”

I wasn’t sure if his questions and statements were confusing or if my rattled nervous system had retired my comprehension skills.

Chuckling, he stared down at me from his long frame. I was an even six feet tall on a really good day that was accompanied by a really good pair of running sneakers. He towered over me with ease, putting his height beyond the six-foot-four-inch mark.

Six, six.Maybe.

“This is my first time, too, and from afar, you look like you know what the hell you’re doing. I figured you’d be a damn good accountability partner. Keep me from running my Black ass home. I don’t live very far.”

“Square business. Is that what it means? A good accountability partner?”

“In this case, it does.”

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