Page 12 of Absolute Certainty
Gotcha gotcha. What’s your favorite movie?
SAHAR
It’s a solid tie between Roman Holiday and The Sound of Music.
JAY
One of those is not a romance…
SAHAR
Yes, I’m fully aware of that, but Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn are perfect in it. And it still centers around a love that changes everything. But look, you didn’t ask for a top three or anything, and I feel it’s imperative to share that my comfort movie is Clue. No romance in that.
JAY
Can you imagine the discourse that movie would’ve stirred on social media with alternate endings if it aired for the first time today? Granted, I think the time period adds to the charm, but imagine if they’d kept up the secrecy and you had to keep going to different showings to see an alternate ending.
Anyway, solid choice for a comfort movie.
SAHAR
Right!? I was way too young when I first watched it, but I loved it so much. It’s a good thing Wills loves it, too, otherwise she would’ve kicked me out of the flat because of how often I put it on. Do you have a comfort movie?
JAY
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
SAHAR
I just burst out laughing because both our comfort films have something to do with crime. Were we criminals in another life?
His mind went straight to Bonnie and Clyde.
His mind shouldnothave gone there.
JAY
Or detectives.
SAHAR
A better option, for sure. I’m going to put it on and try to sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
JAY
Goodnight.
If he gave his mind the agency to continue wandering, thoughts of Sahar would keep him up all night, so instead, he set his phone down and also tried to sleep.
Jay had an earlier shift tomorrow where he’d maybe—hopefully—catch her before he was off.
3
SAHAR
Aquiet, post-Sunday performance night-in was exactly what Sahar needed right now. Cozy matching lounge wear on before 6 p.m., hair washed and braided to the side. Bliss. She was eager to watch Jay’s next film and giddy about having something to look forward to—a new piece of fiction that wasn’t just for entertainment, but for the sake of getting to know someone better.
When the time finally came after she’d gotten home from work, showered, and cooked dinner, Sahar situated herself comfortably on the sofa before purchasing the film digitally. Balancing a plate of saffron rice with fried chicken and vegetables in one hand, she pressed play with her other before setting the remote down.
