A Rugged Kiss from a Headcutter

Unlike what he had done in his previous life, in this one he decided to discard the poisonous bile that had risen from expectations and systems as best as he could. But he was partially average in the right ways, and awfully light in the areas that were most noticeable, so he didn’t have to worry about attracting unwanted stares from the world around him.

I used to be someone important, some time ago, he whispered to himself every night as he walked the suburban streets back home. Nobody ever heard his silences, because he was unsavorily good at pretending that his life was fulfilled even though nothing was lacking. And though he had friends and he had treasures to keep and he had a confidence that his short stature, thinning hair, and belly emphasized, he often found himself alone in the middle of sleep, staring blankly, nightdreaming himself into the tumultuous waters of emotional relevance.

One night as he walked, he finally met him. The handsome figure that awaited the bus, a tall, thin, and fit shape, with a black stubble, deep blue eyes, and nine fingers. They held their gazes together for a long time, before the man shrouded in the dark shrugged his shoulders.

You ought to be careful in the dead of the night, who knows what can happen, the figure said, and he slowly approached him as if about to consume. But before he could say anything or do anything, the bus had arrived, and he patted his shoulder. Later, later, he said.

Name? Name, please, he asked.

Jack in the night, Henry in the day, the figure said and waved goodbye from the bus window.

From that moment on, Jack would wait for him whenever he went back home. From the extra shade of a tree in moonlit nights or seated in a bench all by himself, he would simply wave hello and wave goodbye, while he was too stumped, nervous, awkward, and generally weirded out to say or do anything but do the same. But he couldn’t stop thinking about him from the moment he woke up, and his heart would only beat in frenzy when he came into view and would only lie still when he thought of him again.

You will take the chance, I’m sure of it, one of these nights you will get what you want, said Jack in the middle of his waving. This was enough to give him pause and rather than continue onward, he turned back and stood.

What do you want?

I am here for you, you must know this, but after all this time, you are afraid, I can see it in your eyes whenever the streetlights shine on them, fearful, indecisive, there’s fire within you, that has been extinguished, but it can burn, you must, he answered and bowed his whole body.

Not enough, I mean, what if I… if I get hurt or…

An understandable fear to confess to a man you barely know in the middle of the night in the middle of an empty street, said Jack as he slowly approached him again as the first time they had met. He did not move and waited for him to tower him again. How much more dangerous do you want to get, surely not more, not anymore, who knows what kind of characters roam the streets, what people do inside their homes, how much evil lurks around…

I’ll show you the way then, I guess that’s what you want, he said.

Well, it’s a start, Jack said.

And they both went home and though they spoke for a little while of mundane things, there was a much more serious matter at hand. Jack moved over and kissed him in the middle of a rather lame joke and he, feeling unloved, unlucky, and mediocre, did not feel he ever deserved something so wonderful and fulfilling. He could feel his strong arms pulling his body towards the bed and the dead of night was a blessing for him, for he could not see his horrifying flaws in comparison to the perfection that was slowly undressing him.

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so out of shape, what must you think of me.

There are all kinds of beauty, and those beauties that can be seen beyond are the best, and I have been all over town looking for an adventure, and I’ve had plenty, and yours, yours excites me so much, do you understand?, do you wish to know.

And they kissed again and felt the warmth of their arms and their chests and their legs and spent such a wonderful night that no amount of occasional impotence could hinder it. Jack did not mind. And he, for the first time, felt more like just simply sleeping, and not dream.

When the morning came, Henry waved goodbye and he did the same.

Tomorrow, in the darkness of the unknown, I will see your body again, and I will let you bring me here, Henry said.

He nodded and felt tears of happiness in his eyes, a strange elation rising up in him for the first time, and he smiled, sweetly and ugly, with his crooked teeth.