LHB

That summer was exceptionally hot and humid. It was my first summer in Ohio. I was really focused on my academics that summer, I would stay up late listening to Nina Simone and read and write for hours. It was a smelly summer, air conditioners were not a reality in our dorms and communal spaces. I met her in front of main building, I had noticed her weeks earlier, but had yet to meet her. She was dressed up and had the hood of her car up, I walked over and asked if she needed help. Her car wouldn’t start, I tried to help her the best I could…but alas I was no use. I didn’t care, because at least I finally knew her name. As luck would have it, we ended up in the same writing intensive workshop a few days later. Summer semester was always hard to be awake for, because classes started really early in the morning. But I was wide awake that whole week, the sight of her was better than any coffee or pill. She was the first girl I had met in college who flirted with the same fierceness as myself. We would stand outside for hours, talking about the most random things. I remember one night I ended up in her room until the sun came up…we shifted around the various corners in her room, talking about music, love, fear, and being 20…I think we kissed, but I don’t remember. I do remember making out with her in South hall in front of the elevator’s a few nights earlier…the kiss wasn’t great, but I had waited for that moment all summer. A week or so later, we had sex on my plastic dorm mattress. She won’t claim it as sex, but years later I count her in the total number of people I’ve slept with.

We never dated, or had sex depending on who you ask…but i fell in love with her that summer. I never told her. Because of her, I like what I like.Thank You.

Tonight was the first train ride home, where I looked forward to the hot blowing air underground. Fall was in the air tonight, any dream seemed possible, every fear seemed to have vanished.The cold air pushed against me and made my skin cold on the top layer of flesh. In fall you can forget about anything and just tuck it away until spring…freeze it for a few month. Thank you fall.