text: (Burnt-Sienna) I awake to the view of my alarm clock. It reads 9 o’clock AM. I put more effort forward than I’d like to admit was needed to remember if it was a weekend or not, and whether I needed to get my hung-over ass out of bed and prepare for work. After a considerable time of searching through the foggy wasteland that is my mind I remember that last night was Friday, making this morning Saturday. I make the promise to myself that I make, and break, every time I wake up like this. “I will stop drinking this week.” A small sigh of relief escapes my lips, as I realize I get to just relax and ease my way into the morning. I look out across the white rolling ocean of silk that is my sheets, and past that through the window to the expanse of the city, the AM sun creeping over the cloud-brushing skyscrapers lighting my white studio apartment that early morning yellow color that brings a warming sensation to the room. I look around at the messy sprawl of clothes and other assorted items on my apartment floor and something catches my eye. Is that, a dress? My eyes roll across the room inspecting for separate evidence of a body to accompany the mysterious dress. My eyes gloss over the bedroom, and past the kitchen to rest upon the bathroom door. The light is present under the door signifying occupancy. The door opens, and out comes a pair of eyes. I describe this person as such because there is no other way to first take in this woman. Her eyes are a gentle green, the kind that makes your heart beat just a little faster, the kind that’ll make your sole melt, the kind that make you want to just trust. Curly burnt-sienna colored locks roll down across the cascade of pale, flawless skin that is her neck and shoulders. She notices me right away, and just looks at me, her mouth curls up into a smile, and I vaguely recall her asking to take a sweatshirt and some sweats to depart in, and I vaguely remember mumbling a “Yes” as my eyes are unable to be separate from her. She slowly dresses, gracefully pulling sweats over the length of her legs. They loosely hang off her hips, and as I continue to marvel at her grace I remind myself I should say something, but it’s as though I’m trapped within the confines of my own mind. I can’t say anything, I can’t do anything but just admire. I continue to fight my brain, to escape this prison, to express that she should stay for breakfast, or that we could go somewhere together; but all I can do is mindlessly gaze at her as I watch her pull my sweatshirt overhead. The morning sun is reflecting off her flowing burnt-sienna locks, constituting a magnificent luster to the color. I look on, fighting to unlock my brain, as easily the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, looks me in the eyes with those gentle green eyes, the ones that locked me in this state originally, smiles, thanks me for a good night, and exits my apartment. I lay here; pondering my paralysis, and feelings of regret and failure wash over me. I steam about my incompetence, “How could I let her go?” I keep asking myself bitterly. I brew coffee, and cannot take my mind off this woman. She captured my heart, in less than five seconds, makeup-less, and half naked. I can’t help but think that I’ll never get that opportunity again, and swear to myself that if I ever find a girl, who does this to me again I will not lock up. I will not let my anxious brain destroy my hopes of the life I want to live. I live an easy life, where my only goals are to live stress free, and find someone to make me happy, and I just know I missed an opportunity today. I don’t know where I met this woman, and I don’t know how I possibly managed to get her to stay a night with me, but I will remember her, and I tell myself that I will not forget her. A few days pass, but she is still emblazoned deep into the confines of my mind, as I try to continue and live my life working at the local diner. I take break around 10 AM, and just sit there in one of the many booths. It’s been days and I haven’t taken my mind off her for more than an hour. I can’t escape the gripping feeling that I let something amazing slip through my fingers. I’m sitting here brooding, but also happy that while preoccupied with her I’d maintained alcohol free for the past few days, when someone slides into the booth across the table from me. I look up and lock eyes with those same, warm, gentle green eyes from before. The same burnt-sienna colored curls spilling down to her shoulders, only this time it was fastened up into a lazy ponytail. She’d brought my sweats and sweatshirt and set them down at the table. She looks across at me, purses her lips as though she’s going to say something, but seems hesitant, and closes them. She looks at me for a second and I’m locked up again, I’m again fighting my brain just to take my eyes off of her and say something. There is nothing else like her and I cannot blow this opportunity again. She starts to get up to leave, and I know I have to say something now. As she’s about to exit the booth I finally break the chains of my mind that were holding me back, and say to her “Hey wait! Would you like to join me for breakfast?” She sits back down, directly across from me. She looks at me for a split second, and appears to be thinking. The second seems to pass at an infinitely slow measure. She looks at me, smiles, and says “I’d love to.” Sorry I'm bad with formatting.