She opened the front door with a blue snuggie wrapped around her body and over her head like a scarf. Holding herself covered with one hand on both ends of the snuggie and a white tank top graced with a splotch of coffee stain on the left breast. Her pajama pants were too big for her and made a scratching sound as she swooshed the extended 4 inches or so of extra pant length across the carpet, to get back to the couch. I walked in with nothing really on my mind, but then started observing her place like I always seem to do. It was pretty messy, but considering she’s newly alone at her apartment and started a new job 3 days prior, I understand. The dishes consisted of various wine glasses, plates and some pots filled with soapy water that were all starting to pile up. A pizza box, with one slice left, sat on the table the last 3 days I was there. (These lists come out frequently partly, i think, because I never had the discipline to stop eating pizza, especially with only one slice left.) The ironing board was out in the hallway in front of the bathroom door with the iron sitting on it plugged in. Both rooms had there doors open and lights on. It was pretty messy, but considering I was there the day before, it didn’t bother me.
It was 1:30 or so in the morning and I guess it was pretty pointless for me to even come over, seeing as how we were both exhaustedly tired from our days. She worked 9 hours in San Diego at her new job selling oversized women expensive clothing, and I spent most of my evening at my extended family’s annual Christmas party, drinking beer and making small talk with the cousins. After the party I went down to San Diego to see my good friends band play and didn’t make it back home to my place until about 1am. I called her, because thats what happens when I pick up my phone these days, and she answered almost in mid dream. Jokingly I said I was going to come over to hang out and to a bit of my surprise she said, in other words i’m sure, “see you soon.” My eyes were definitely not on the same page as my brain when it made the decision to drive over and see her, but I just can’t seem to turn down the opportunity when it arises.
I took my shoes off next to the heater and threw my wallet, keys, and phone charger down next to them. Thats when I turned around to face the couch and noticed her laying there. She was curled up on the couch with that hospital blue snuggie being used as a blanket. Her heel was outside of the blanked and peeking out the end of her pajama pants. Toes still covered and warm. Eyes closed with her hands flat under her cheek, wresting on the arm of the couch. No smile or any expression on her face at all, other than a look of comfort. Her long dark brown hair was mostly out, off of her face, except for one strand hanging over her eye and bending back towards her ear. I made it a point to take it all in, and remember that moment. A beautiful moment of simplicity and grace. A moment that I decided I would store in my brain forever. One I would write about and people would read. When they did they would be inspired by the conservative elegance she possessed. What divine nature she had laying there. They would be inspired to write about the little things. The most important things.
I wanted to fall asleep when I sat down on the couch next to her, but the warmth of her long legs laying over my lap was so comforting, I forced my eyes to stay open and enjoy it. I rubbed her top leg over the blanket creating a friction that kept my hand warm and her leg as well. Watching her lay there, my conscious cut in and made me feel the expression on my face. It seemed weird so i then imagined me being outside my body looking at my face like a psychic mirror of some sort. I wanted to sculpt my face to make an expression that, if noticed, would cause her to wonder, what was on my mind. But the more I thought about the concept I created, a psychic mirror, it got even weirder. I started to see my under trimmed mustache, awkward eyebrows and huge scar on the left side of my forehead. This turned my comfort and enjoyment of the rare moment into one of deep concern for my weak appearance. “What am I even thinking about?” I thought. My body, so passed the point of exhaustion, let my mind start to take over and conjure these strange theories. Sleep was the most extreme necessity in my life at that moment and without a choice I no longer fought it.
My alarm went off hours later at 8:30 am and woke me up in the most uncomfortable position I could have fallen asleep in. Sort of sit-laying at a 45 degree angle on the couch next to her. My back had been contorted all night, and the pre mature wake up call caused my body to jolt up and realign my back bones. A sharp pain burst through my body before a light hearted, tired chuckle escaped my mouth. Turned off my phone alarm and tried to go back to sleep in a better spot, but as I was settling in, she kicked me and let me know that the beeping, and my spazzed jump, woke her up as well. “Go back to sleep,” I murmured in sleep talk. “I’d love to,” she responded. “But you’re the one who woke me up!” Even her voice in the morning has a tone that is delightful. “Pleeease just go back to sleep for a bit longer,” I sarcastically begged. “Haha, I can’t. Now that you woke me up, you have to wake up and walk with me to get coffee.” she said with that simple voice. I was so tired but also posses the curse of, when Im up, Im up. And to be honest, a nice walk early in the morning is always something Im up for. Before I could allow my blood adjust to my body now standing, she was at the front door ready to go. Still wearing the white tank top with the coffee stain on it and the pajama pants, but now with a black overcoat I had given her to borrow for the winter. When my eyes started to see things clearly I looked at her at the door. She was standing there smiling at me in laughter. I don’t exactly wake up well presented, and it was reassured to me by her expression. She, however, 10 minutes after waking from a deep sleep, looks just as beautiful as ever. Her hair up in a bun, with some strands hanging free but still in just the right place. Slender face free from make up and graced with an innocent softness to her cheeks. Never have I witnessed a women with such distinct, bright brown eyes early in the morning. This all passed through my head in a 5 second span before we walked out of the house and started towards the coffee shop.
If nothing else is seen from my words, see this. It is possible to love someone so much, that you remember the smallest of details of a completely insignificant moment in time. This was one of those moments.
