Spooky bowtie for my suit to hide my true self and pain. The wish that I had written on a card hanged in a bamboo tree started to ceased for the ice that run deep through the river strike by the cannon of love and is still waiting for the avatar of the sun to help the june bride celebrate the wedding without the rain and is waiting for her groom to lift her veil.
Tick-tock-tick-tock endless sound that pierce the silence sometimes irritating, annoying and disturbing how I wish it would stop. The noise that drives you to anxiety. In the end I can just let go a heavy sigh for it’s my only ally when it comes to sorrow and solitude. It gives you the assurance that the hand is marking every second in timepiece. It only meant one thing that even if you felt it slows down when you’re in a pinch the second hand still twitch. Well I believe that time won’t stop to tick.
The only one who is warp by the time you came into my life is me. I am mentally chained and emotionally link to the chapter of my life where you helped me wrote some parts. I don’t have any intention to prolong this nightmare. I am spell bound by the time you spend with me. Every time I close my eyes I would see you smile. The curve that had my heart carved a sorrowful scar.
1:01
I still have a good fraction of the scenery when I first met you. In front of a rundown shop in the show window was a mannequin wearing a wedding gown. My left slipper snapped which cause me to lose balance and fell. You came out from the run done shop and helped me get up by offering your hand. I can never forget the picture of your face that day. You’ve got black eyes and wavy long hair. Your lips is colored between pink and red. You are wearing a white dress and holding a market bag. As I accept and hold on unto your hand I noticed how pale and soft your skin. You even lend me your slipper.
“Sorry it might be small for you and it’s not made of glass but for now please accept this Cinderella.” You said with a teasing and chuckling soft voice. I cannot help but blush in shame from your comment for it is lame to be called Cinderella by a lady when you are a gentleman. Nonetheless I manage to regain my composure. “Thank you, by the way what is you’re...” I was cut off when you started to walk away and shouted but I miss the chance to hear it properly because of the noisy street. I watch your back until you were swallowed by the crowd. I can still smell your scent. A rose that is soaked by milk and honey. Sweet and innocent. For the first time I now appreciate God’ wonderful creation.
2:02
It’s been a month since that encounter yet all the things that happened that time is still fresh in my mind. I’ve been going in front of the rundown shop. Waiting for you to open that door again. When the sun is about to set I decided to stop by in the nearby grocery noting that my fridge is empty. I notice a familiar scent near the counter, when I looked at who is paying I immediately felt a whisper in my heart I was about to get near you but the person next to you yelled.” Don’t cut in line dude!” So I got no choice but to get back where I fall in line and watch you went out of the grocery. All I can do is follow you with my eyes.
3:03
I carried your slipper around hoping that I might bump to you in the road. How uncool for a guy to carry a single slipper wherever you go. When I was eating with my friend in a restaurant for lunch I saw you pass by from the window glass. Your wavy hair is playing with the wind. I know from the moment that my breath got caught in my throat to the point. I needed to drink the water of my companion in one gulp. All I can do is to keep your slipper clean and carry it around.
4:04
From time to time my feet would lead me to that run down shop and when I capture the mannequin wearing a gown in my peripheral view. I heard a scream and I saw you chasing the guy that is running in my direction. “Thief! Give back my bag you jerk! I heard you shout in rage while catching your breath. It was out of hand I grab your slipper from my bag and slapped it to the robber’s face. It cause him to fall down and drop your bag. The situation was handled safely when the policemen arrived. You thank me over and over again. You said you were so grateful that you keep bowing to me and for some reason I’m feeling giddy. You ask my phone number without you getting my name. I one walk home without your name and with your slipper in my hand.
5:05
I eagerly waited for your call but I never received one. The clock strike and it is the month of October and like how time pass your call seem to also pass. I was riding a cab when the traffic light signals for the people to cross the street I saw a glimpse of white blowy dress sway with the crowd. Your right in front of me crossing to the other side of the street. I was about to call your attention when I heard a whisper from the back of mind that you might not recognize me. So I held back and watch you walk away right in front of me. You seem to love white and funny how I seem to spot you a lot from a distance. And you never seem to catch me gaze at you. You never seem to notice my existence, for your presence had catch all my attention.
6:06
It’s time to put on those jack-o-lantern for before the night get deep. My doorbell will keep on ringing might as well prepare a pack of candies for the children that are disguised as ghost or whatever. Here is your plan Earl. Get five pieces of candies drop it on their basket and close the door, do not entertain them. I feel crazy talking to myself. So here it goes my doorbell rang and when I opened the door I was surprise to see you wearing a wedding gown in blood merrily recited in churros with the kids trick or treat. The twinkle in your eyes shows that you forgotten about me. I close the door for the ghost of your smile haunted me it creeps through my spine and your cheerful voice send chill unto my bones knowing that you don’t remember even the trace of slipper you lent me. For the first time I didn’t witness you walk away from me.
7:07
Even if you can’t remember me the ghost of your smile keep visiting me. I can’t conceal myself to stop visiting the place where I first met you. I am standing in front of it when I saw you from the show window wearing the gown in display twirling in front of the mirror and when you caught me looking at you. You suddenly remove it from yourself and return it to the mannequin. I tried to hold back my laughter but I can’t. You came out of the shop red as tomato and I find it rather cute. “Sorry for that sir are you here to buy something for your partner?” You asked me innocently but I admit I was taken a back from that question. ”Yeah! I wish I have someone whom I can buy this kind of stuff for. I answered faking my voice a tint of sadness and correcting her that I am not married nor in any relationship. I just hope you would caught up what I am trying to deliver that I am single and had fix my gaze for a certain someone that is you. “Sorry sir, most of the customer that comes here are married, then what are you looking for sir?” you inquired. “Do you have a lace that is designed with rose and knitted in white?” I asked thinking that the lace would be perfect for her.
8:08
Everyone is lively due to the Christmas vibe. I halt from walking when my phone vibrated showing an unknown number on my screen. Picking it up thinking who might own this number when I heard your voice from the other line. You were apologizing because it took you long to call me. You suddenly asked if we can meet up and all I can see is yes with excitement in my chest. We meet up to the restaurant where I saw you outside the restaurant and now I am sharing food and table with you. You said your name is Thalia. Atlas I went home with your name and slipper. Yup I forgot to return it to you.
9:09
I am at the side of the road waiting for a cab to pick me up when I felt a tap on my shoulder “Morning Earl! Off to work?” You greeted merrily. “Thalia, morning! Yes, I am waiting for a cab.” Shoot I have to run there’s a sale at the grocery and I can’t afford to miss it. I return your wave and smile and for the first time I was able to laugh while watching you walk away from me.
10:10
The snow is falling from the sky the called weather give me a reason to long for you. Nice thought Cinderella man. I am inside a cake shop waiting for my order to be wrapped when the chime caught my ears and the person who came in almost give me a heart attack. I was only thinking of you and now you are in flesh in front of me. God is really amazing! I tried to get your attention “Thalia are you here to buy s cake?” You look at me and smiled “oh! Hi Earl, Merry Christmas. I am here to pick up the cake I ordered for my Father’s birthday you answered with trembling voice because of the cold the followed up “why don’t you join.” You suddenly invited me and all I do is nod. I love the atmosphere of your house and I can see how great your father is it reflect through you. I was able to tell you about the slipper and you said “keep it as a token, that once in your life you became Cinderella” You remarked while laughing. Luck I had with me the lace I bought from your shop, giving it to you as a gratitude and that is just an excuse because I really bought it for you. That was the best Christmas ever.
11:11
We became good friends and often meet outside. I helped you with the run down shop and saw how you knit, we shop together and eat outside. But then one day the fingers that are knitting those laces and is fixing the gown for the mannequin is on the ground soaked in water and blood. The air-piercing sound of the ambulance had taken you away. I saw you get stab by a stranger as he snatch your bag. The time is moving yet I can’t take a step from my spot. My body get numb from the rain. I was paralyzed the only thing that is moving from my body are my tears it endlessly cascade to the ground where you’ve fallen.
12:12
What is this? If I am Cinderella then why is it that you did not wait for the clock to strike twelve? I just learned your name not dance with you in the hall. It’s saddening for this Cinderella man never seem to achieve that happily ever after. I am standing here on you grave lighting a candle giving you the flowers I picked, wearing a spooky bow tie and carrying the heavy pain in my heart. Just by looking at that single slipper feels like stepping in a time warp where this Cinderella man’s castle is full of flashbacks and throwbacks and as it reset from the start it cause my heart to stigmatize. For I miss you lovely smile. Your wavy hair and your scent that is like a rose soaked in honey and milk. You’re on and off presence, your cherry voice the way you say my name. Everything about you. I love pronouncing your name as it plays with my tongue “Thalia”. This warp of time chanted a fairy tale that melancholy my mind for even the mannequin displayed in that run down shop never raise the veil of that pure gown that she always wear yet it is thrown away wishing me happiness.