Perplexing

My mind has always been bombarded. Well, ‘always’ is an exaggeration. Since I hit the age of thirteen would be the truth. I feel things I shouldn’t and hear just the same. They brush my conscience like a fine paintbrush leaving a small trace of watercolor behind every time. They’re light and fuzzy. Like static buzzing in my mind, it’s hard to get the sound of it out of my head once it’s gone. I used to think I was a freak. Now I know I am.

I can never get away from the noise of people’s thoughts and emotions. They always seem to find me. This is why I chose to live in the country where I have no neighbors for miles around. Still, today I couldn’t stand the quiet of my own thoughts. I usually put a barricade up, to keep them out. I just didn’t have the strength. My own emotions and thoughts just keep ramming a hole into it to get out. My dam wouldn’t hold today so why bother?

I felt like I was going mad. One minute I was the woman working the local vegetable stand, slowly fanning myself wondering why in god’s name I ever married a good for nothing farmer. Oh yeah it had been for the – then I was the old man moseying along beside me marveling at my scrumptious tight ass. Then… there was silence. A small black void was right in front of me amidst the clamor.

I looked up to see the most delicious woman ever and blushed as she found me staring and smiled. She turned and walked towards me. I couldn’t help but stutter. What was she? Why couldn’t I hear and feel her like everyone else? What kind of freak was she?

She was right in front of me then and laughing. Her voice was light and airy… musical in a way. She had the kind of voice that could make my world spin on its axis and back around the other way. Possibly even break off from its path to live in her orbit. Lord knows the gravity that drew me to her was greater than even the sun.

She took my hand and brushed it with her lips. “Charmed, my lady. What’s a treat like you doing out here all torn up?” She didn’t let go of my hand as our arms fell between us. She held it lightly and I felt electricity of some sort running into my fingertips energizing me. I bit my lip and gave a placid shrug.

“I’m just out of sorts right now. You? What’s your name if I may ask?”

Her eyes twinkled. “I’ve never really had the need for a name, Oormi, but you may call me Zaila.” Her head tilted to the side as if in interest. “You certainly are a special girl aren’t you?”

My eyes narrowed in confusion and a slight flash of fear. What could she know? As I stared at her for the briefest moment, I noticed that at the edge of my sight she seemed fuzzy. It was as if she wasn’t all there. I looked up to meet her eyes and she was looking right into mine. “As if you’re not Zaila? What a–” Her finger was suddenly against my lips silencing me.
I of course couldn’t help noticing that her finger was almost electric against my lips yet soft like petals. I had to fight the urge to taste them and… did she notice my tongue almost dart out of my mouth? Her brow was crinkled in amusement. I bit my lip again. “Let’s take a walk shall we gorgeous?” she asked.

I don’t know what she was smoking to think I was gorgeous. I was wearing my baggiest pants and my most worn-out t-shirt. What? I wasn’t expecting this to happen or I’d have been wearing my bloody Victoria secret under things and my snazziest dress. Then I’d really have stood out at this little local market. Anyways, away from the tangents!

She had started lightly pulling my hand and I followed almost like I was on neutral and I’d go wherever she led. Next thing I knew I was threading my arm through her own. It felt right. I suddenly knew I belonged here, beside her forever. I clung closer out of fear at my next thought. Zaila could leave at any moment and breeze out of my life as soon as she flew in. I needed her silence like air or water.

She seemed to sense my fear and gave me a small smile, caressing my cheek. The movement felt familiar and I felt myself calming even if the situation was odd. She was still a stranger I knew nothing about her but I felt like I knew everything. “Hush Oormi. I’ve always been here and always will. I’ve waited too long to leave, darling.”

“Waited, Zaila? Waited for what? I have the oddest feelings. They make no sense.” My eyebrows were practically stitched together with confusion.

Zaila stopped in her steps and framed my face with one palm, holding one hand as always. It was like we were one person. One being. I didn’t move my eyes from hers but I could see out of the corner of my eye that we were deep in a forest. I hadn’t been looking to see where she was leading me. I was too wrapped up in her. Suddenly none of it mattered. All I wanted was to be in her arms. I took a step forward and breathed a sigh of relief as her warm arms held me. “Waited for you, Oormi. A long life is a pointless one without your other half. I knew who you were the moment you came into existence and I’ve been waiting ever patiently sweetheart.”

I looked up at her and even though I couldn’t read Zaila’s mind I knew she was telling the truth. She was mine and I hers but there was one thing left to ask. “What are you?”

She laughed and it was like daylight warming the ground. “Oormi, I’m what you would call an elemental.” I must have had a skeptical look on my face with her reply because her next action was to sweep me off my feet and into her arms with a smirk. “Oh ye of little faith darling.” Next thing I knew we were being raised up into the branches of the surrounding trees by vines and they created a hammock beneath us.

“Oh my god!” I clung to her out of fear of falling and she was giggling the whole time. “This isn’t funny, we could fall you know.”

She was practically hunched over with mirth and I punched her shoulder lightly. “It’s perfectly safe. I can control it.”

Her hand ran down my side and I arched my back from the electrical stimulation in her fingertips. I bit my lip and with all the intelligence in my mind all I could utter was “oh.” Suddenly all I wanted to do was jump her bones. “Gods.”

“Indeed, Oormi,” she was still smirking at me as she moved her hand to caress my chest through my shirt. “So long, it’s been so long.”

I moved closer and kissed her with all the passion I possessed. “You won’t have to wait anymore. I’ve found you, Zaila.”

“Yes, and we’ll have all of eternity to love each other. You’ll be forever 21 after tonight baby.” She winked and I couldn’t help the blush that spread across my cheeks.

“You mean after… I’ll be…”

“Hell yes,” she smiled in triumph and from then on continued to devour my heart and soul. This would definitely be an adventurous eternity… if I had anything to say about it.