Below are the lyrics to the song "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. It's a beautiful song, and I decided to write down my take on it. The short story follows the lyrics.
It's late in the evening
She's wondering what clothes to wear
She puts on her make up
And brushes her long blonde hair
And then she asks me
Do I look alright
And I say yes, you look wonderful tonight
We go to party
And everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady
That's walking around with me
And then she asks me
Do you feel alright
And I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight
I feel wonderful
Because I see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize
How much I love you
It's time to go home now
And I've got an aching head
So I give her the car keys
She helps me to bed
And then I tell her
As I turn out the light
I say my darling, you were wonderful tonight
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight.
-Eric Clapton
"Tonight"
The last of the light has disappeared from the sky, telling me that we will be late. But that's alright, because I am in no rush to be anywhere that is not with you. I watch from the hallway as you enter and exit the closet, throwing different variations of the same outfit onto the bed. This is one of my favorite things you do. Thank you for doing it tonight.
I settle on the bed and watch you flick on the light to your make up mirror. The light is bright and you blink back a tear. With eyes closed, I imagine catching that tear on my the tip of my finger and wiping it from your cheek. When I open my eyes again, your sleek black brush is combing through your long blonde hair. Its those simple everyday motions I have come to adore about you, and it feels like I could watch you getting ready for hours without being tired of it.
You turn your chin so that I see your profile against the harsh light of the mirror. I watch your lips move gracefully and you ask, "How do I look?"
And you know what I'm going to say, just as you always do.
You giggle, biting your bottom lip. "We should leave now."
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Best of the Brine
The Disconnect
I am not like other people, yet I am exactly the same.
From the color of my hair and eyes, to the tone of my skin. We all look similar now, so that it is easier to fit in. Genetic modifications became the thing to do a thousand years ago and have never been reversed. We have hardware as well, installed before birth.
On every world we inhabit, we are connected. The chips in our brains allow us access to each other with only a thought. Technological advances are the veins that connect us and keep us alive. If a person is to disconnect from the Network and every other human soul, then his or her life is forfeit and over. In this world, disconnection is the end.
I have looked through the archives of the time before The Great Connection and I envy those people. They could choose to connect when they wanted. No longer. I am different because I crave that disconnect.
But it is the one thing I cannot have.
So, I have found a way to experience it the only way I can without ending my own life.
I stare into the eyes of my victim. His name does not matter, because once he is disconnected his identity will vanish. I relish in these moments just before I unplug them.
He lies paralyzed on the floor of his apartment and I make the incision to disable his chip. His blood spills onto the plush carpet and I cringe. I have always hated blood, it is just so dirty. With shaking hands I inject the virus into his chip in order to unplug him from the Network.
The effect is immediate. A sense of urgency rises in his eyes. He doesn't realize what I have done at first because he can still sense someone. What he doesn't know is that the person is me. I have left his connection with me alive so that I might experience his disconnection with him, but happily I will not experience the end result.
After an hour, he is able to move and stands up. He lumbers towards me and opens his mouth. It is awkward and strange, for he has never formed a full sentence with this vocal chords. He simply hasn't had the need when every one is inside his head.
Seeing that I will not help him, he heads to the door of his apartment. Just like every other victim, I know he will not be able to get past the lock.
This man has never learned how to unlock his own door. In fact, this man has never learned a single thing that will help him survive the next three days. He will not know how to cook, clean himself properly or how to turn on the faucet for water. Just like every other person I have unplugged, he will go through the routine of his every day schedule, but will not be able to do any of it. And that is where the disconnection becomes deadly.
In a world where the Network tells you how to function, being without it means certain death.
I watch him for days until finally he collapses and struggles to breath. He is afraid and confused.
Then comes my favorite part. The ultimate disconnect.
A shiver goes down my spine and the deed is done.
I have often wondered why I am different than the rest. My answer was found in the archives under the title, Serial Killers Eliminated Under The Great Connection.
They thought we would be gone after everyone was in our heads. They thought they'd be able to weed us out.
They were wrong.
I am not like other people, yet I am exactly the same.
From the color of my hair and eyes, to the tone of my skin. We all look similar now, so that it is easier to fit in. Genetic modifications became the thing to do a thousand years ago and have never been reversed. We have hardware as well, installed before birth.
On every world we inhabit, we are connected. The chips in our brains allow us access to each other with only a thought. Technological advances are the veins that connect us and keep us alive. If a person is to disconnect from the Network and every other human soul, then his or her life is forfeit and over. In this world, disconnection is the end.
I have looked through the archives of the time before The Great Connection and I envy those people. They could choose to connect when they wanted. No longer. I am different because I crave that disconnect.
But it is the one thing I cannot have.
So, I have found a way to experience it the only way I can without ending my own life.
I stare into the eyes of my victim. His name does not matter, because once he is disconnected his identity will vanish. I relish in these moments just before I unplug them.
He lies paralyzed on the floor of his apartment and I make the incision to disable his chip. His blood spills onto the plush carpet and I cringe. I have always hated blood, it is just so dirty. With shaking hands I inject the virus into his chip in order to unplug him from the Network.
The effect is immediate. A sense of urgency rises in his eyes. He doesn't realize what I have done at first because he can still sense someone. What he doesn't know is that the person is me. I have left his connection with me alive so that I might experience his disconnection with him, but happily I will not experience the end result.
After an hour, he is able to move and stands up. He lumbers towards me and opens his mouth. It is awkward and strange, for he has never formed a full sentence with this vocal chords. He simply hasn't had the need when every one is inside his head.
Seeing that I will not help him, he heads to the door of his apartment. Just like every other victim, I know he will not be able to get past the lock.
This man has never learned how to unlock his own door. In fact, this man has never learned a single thing that will help him survive the next three days. He will not know how to cook, clean himself properly or how to turn on the faucet for water. Just like every other person I have unplugged, he will go through the routine of his every day schedule, but will not be able to do any of it. And that is where the disconnection becomes deadly.
In a world where the Network tells you how to function, being without it means certain death.
I watch him for days until finally he collapses and struggles to breath. He is afraid and confused.
Then comes my favorite part. The ultimate disconnect.
A shiver goes down my spine and the deed is done.
I have often wondered why I am different than the rest. My answer was found in the archives under the title, Serial Killers Eliminated Under The Great Connection.
They thought we would be gone after everyone was in our heads. They thought they'd be able to weed us out.
They were wrong.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
The Best of the Brine
Plan Your Trip Well
I used to love vacations. And the water.
But when I think about them now, sickness overwhelms me.
It started three weeks ago, when my parents dropped Tyler (my boyfriend), Callie (my best friend), Matt (Callie's boyfriend)and I off in Miami for a cruise. At 22 years old, we were going to have the time of our lives. We documented the entire saga of boarding and took reaction shots of each other as we entered the room.
As my camera dies a slow death from lack of batteries, I idly flip through those first days of the cruise. Back when I loved vacations. When life was nothing but one margarita after another. The screen flickers once, twice, and then goes black. The faces of my friends are gone, and I can't get them back.
The glint from the water hurts my eyes, so I shield them. It reminds me that I lost my sunglasses. Callie had them last. But I don't know where she is. I wish I had my sunglasses. But more than that, I wish I could forget everything that has happened.
I used to love vacations. And the water.
But when I think about them now, sickness overwhelms me.
It started three weeks ago, when my parents dropped Tyler (my boyfriend), Callie (my best friend), Matt (Callie's boyfriend)and I off in Miami for a cruise. At 22 years old, we were going to have the time of our lives. We documented the entire saga of boarding and took reaction shots of each other as we entered the room.
As my camera dies a slow death from lack of batteries, I idly flip through those first days of the cruise. Back when I loved vacations. When life was nothing but one margarita after another. The screen flickers once, twice, and then goes black. The faces of my friends are gone, and I can't get them back.
The glint from the water hurts my eyes, so I shield them. It reminds me that I lost my sunglasses. Callie had them last. But I don't know where she is. I wish I had my sunglasses. But more than that, I wish I could forget everything that has happened.
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