The Kiss

I took a taxi down to the East side of Manhattan. London was just off 37th Street, on the second floor of a building marked the United Kingdom, right next to Duke's and its venerable neon sign.

The teleportation was instant, effortless, and expensive as hell. But she was right where I expected her to be, on a lounge chair in Hyde Park as the summer sun was setting, and she was worth it.

The air in London was sweet and sultry. Her hair was long and black and curly. Her jeans and shirt were snug and soft. Her eyes were turquoise and shimmering, but I could see only their bottom edges, because she was sleeping. Her head lolled back and her mouth was slightly open. She took her early evening nap here every day on one of these chairs.

It had been several years since I'd kissed those lips and I missed them. I looked at her a minute or two, and hoped my presence did not awaken her. She slept. I walked up to her and leaned in to kiss her. I wanted to do this just right. Touch her lips with mine for a fleeting, exquisite split second, long enough for me to feel her lips on mine, not long enough for me to wake her. Every atom in my body urged me to stroke her hair, touch her face, but I resisted. I was here just for the kiss.

And I kissed her, a universe of love in a glancing instant of contact. I pulled back and permitted myself a last look at her sleeping. No point in standing here until she awoke, which could and likely would happen any moment. An older woman walked by, saw me regarding the face I had just kissed. The woman smiled at me. She must have seen the love in my expression.

I walked briskly back to Piccadilly Circus in the warm night. It was a bit of a trek but I was invigorated and my feet felt like they were touching something other than concrete. I ducked into the pub with the New York access.

The trip back to Manhattan was as instant and effortless and expensive as the trip to London, where she would soon awaken. I would call her in an hour and tell her about my quick visit. Maybe that would be enough to rekindle our relationship. But if not, the money I had spent would be well worth this memory of a lifetime.