love
All you need is Love, and Love is all you need.
Northwest Months & Years
The sports coat’s color darkened when he used it as shelter from the rain. He was thirty-two minutes late. She, in all of her tints beneath the table’s individual lighting––her canary gold, her cocktail dress not unlike others under other tablecloths––sat near the back. Beside her ran a floor-to-ceiling pane of glass that overlooked Madsney Avenue and the few cars that trailed up it.
By Calvin Spears5 years ago in Humans
Of Loss and Love
I wore a black dress. Fitted. Above the knee. My high heels made my feet feel like they’d bleed, but I wore them with my back straight and an obvious air of confidence that only I knew was significantly false. I pulled the handkerchief from my clutch and dabbed at the unfallen tears in my eyes, attempting to keep from ruining my recently-applied mascara. I placed a mannequin’s smile on my face and stepped into the overpriced restaurant in search of my date.
By Aliseya Williams 5 years ago in Humans
We'll Always Have Paris
We’ll Always Have Paris It was one week before Christmas in Paris. Snow lightly falling from the sky with the speed and essence of a snow globe, skies light grey with a hint of baby blue peeking through. Alexander is in the city on business for his vineyard he owns in Tuscany, he’s there to meet with the French grape proprietors to bring to Tuscany for his own vineyard. He’s been meeting the wine maker from the legendary Château Pétrus, the creators of arguably the most wonderful Merlot the world has ever been graced by. His meetings have gone exceptional so far, business will boom, and the two Wine makers will create a powerful conglomeration of European wines. Walking the streets of Paris Alexander can’t help to admire the history, culture, and sensual love naturally in the air of the city. He’s been single several years now focusing on his grapes and vines; lost in a life of simplicity, sophistication, success and emptiness. Alexander is a natural hopeless romantic at heart who loves love and appreciates having someone around to take care of, cook for, and admire. The dating scene hasn’t been kind to him but in all honesty the man named, Alexander, hasn’t been so great at putting himself out there to begin with. He hurts from a past love that betrayed him and doesn’t remember how to trust. Paris brings him an empty hope to love again.
By Alex Riola5 years ago in Humans
Our Last Date
“And a glass of merlot too, please,” Char hears herself say. Why did she do that? As if this so called date isn’t crazy enough already. She should’ve listened to Jen and went out with her new coworkers instead to, how did she put it? “Stop dwelling in the past and get a life, you’re only 40! You’re doing so much better! Maybe you’ll even manage to get laid before cobwebs start to--”
By Samantha DeTurk5 years ago in Humans
These arms of mine
William was flipping the wine bottle in half circles as he walked down the hall of the 14th floor. Apartment number 403 seemed strange in the fact that 14 and 400 were only connected in numeral form. He paused in-front of the door and took a few quick breathes like he was trying to steady his breathing before a meditation. He ran his hand through his hair and let out a final deep sigh as he rang the doorbell. Marilyn answered the door and gave a warm smile. “Hey there” she said. “Were you able to find parking? The street fills up around this time of night.”
By Marcos Vergara5 years ago in Humans
A Glass Half Full
From the first day they met he knew that he wanted her to be in his life. He didn’t believe in love at first sight, he was too old and had had his heart broken too many times for that, but he couldn’t deny that he was drawn to her almost immediately. They didn’t talk much the first night and he didn’t want to idealize her so he wouldn’t allow himself to get his hopes up. Plus, he doubted that a woman as beautiful as her would be single and interested in a guy like him. Still, he was excited for the next two days where he’d train her and get the chance to get to know her between waiting tables.
By Andros Alain5 years ago in Humans
I'll be seeing you
The Vineyard had closed for the weekend, and after transferring the newly fermented wine into barrels and testing pH levels for the day, I was ready for a glass. Though I’d never tell the owner of Pizzello Vineyards, founded in Portland, that I preferred the 2017 Merlot “Meet Cute” made with the sweetest plums and a hint of chocolate from California, I quickly went home to grab two bottles.
By Marie Kynd 5 years ago in Humans
Wine Bathing
All ten fingers were interlocked around my left ankle as I sat on the shower floor. I stared blankly at the marble tiles and they seemingly stared back. A blank stare, they offered. One of those "I don't know either" stares, comparable to the ones that my last therapist used to give me before I told her I'd no longer be seeing her. Stares from other people (or things) are the least of my worries though. What hurts the most is the way I've been staring at myself.
By Olivia Marjorae5 years ago in Humans
The Merlot the Merrier
The Merlot the Merrier Thursday Afternoon I’ve seldom, if ever, been stunned into silence by a work of art. It is my job not to be. For the past three years I’ve been the Lakeview Arts Center’s assistant director, I write all the press releases, conduct interviews with radio and television, maintain our website and weekly blog, even write the interpretive labels that describe the paintings to gallery visitors.
By Rae K Eighmey5 years ago in Humans
BREATHE
Minha opened the blue door of Breathe Yoga, taped the CLOSED for COVID sign on the front and closed it again. She sidestepped the boxes stuffed with four years of files and personal effects and sank to the yoga mat on the floor, welcoming the cool on her skin as she leaned against the wall. It had been a long day and she was spent, physically and emotionally. She’d cleaned and packed the last of everything there was to clean and pack, but then came the saying goodbye—not just to her studio but to her fellow merchants, people she’d come to call friends. Defined in the governor’s mandate as a gym, Breathe Yoga was the only shop on the tiny Baltimore block marked to shut down by 5pm, and one by one her neighbors had dropped by to see her off, wish her well. She couldn’t even hug them—everybody 6 feet apart, their smiles and words lost behind masks. It was hard. She would miss this part of her life. But it was Julian, the one person she hadn’t seen all day, who she’d miss the most.
By Karen Sullivan 5 years ago in Humans
