Definitely

As we entered the room, only I was close enough to hear her soft sigh, close enough to catch the scent of apple? No...peach. Definitely peach-flavored - the obnoxious protrusion in the side of her puckered mouth. Adorable. I could taste her sweet, anxious sigh on my lips. Overwhelmed. Ah! Peach-flavored Jolly Rancher.

She shivered, as she purposefully walked. Zig. Zag. Steps, avoiding the loud shadows of chatter, glaring red lights. Clickety-clack of her footsteps making haste as she reached her destination safely, the outdoor patio. Immediately, she stretched out her arms, aggressively, rolling up the sleeves of her casual, white, shirt dress..trying to catch her breath. White, really? Definitely, a faux pas to wear white after Labor Day, right? Especially tonight. Disheveled mess. Definitely. A. Mess.

Only I could recognize her anxiousness, not from a chill, but the uncomfortable onslaught of a hot flash from nerves, leaving her crumpled like a filthy, wet dog. Minus the wet dog smell, thankfully. A cute chihuahua, I think. Put an adorable red bow on her and call her Mitsy. Or not. Still My Adorable Mitsy, at best.

She tugged on her dress, as the October breeze slowly dried her out. I could feel her body quiver one last time & yearned to bathe in her perfumed-perspiration. She wiped her forehead with the back of her child-like hand, still trying to catch her breath. Tugging unconsciously again at her rumpled dress. Hmmm. No ring. Tan line, but definitely no ring. Not tonight. Smart lady. Definitely.

She gazed at the shadows; letting them entertain her exhausted mind. Unconsciously, she lit her Pall Mall 100, inhaling deeply. "Mmm," she moaned, exhaling relief? No, no…satisfaction, yes, satisfied; mission accomplished. Caught unaware, as her black curls burned in the warm wind, she clumsily almost dropped her cigarette, dismayed, not at her burnt hair, but at the near loss of her cigarette, keeping a hold of the butt. Adorably antsy. Adorable & smart.

Distinct perfume, peach-flavored smoke filled my nostrils. Only I was aware she’d been drowning amidst the shadows, instinctively seeking solace behind the caution tape, just out of reach. Silently, we both breathed in the calm reprieve. Too close. She was…uh, is that toilet paper stuck to her red, strappy sandal? Shaking my head in disbelief. Carelessly Adorable. Wait! What’s that staining her sleeve? That she had desperately rolled up just minutes ago? We didn’t have red wine with our dinner? Oh my dear! Disheveled mess. Definitely. A. Mess. Could’ve been.

We witnessed the shadowy figures, inside, taking statements, assessing the scene, outlining the body. I knew her all too well. She’s still trying to catch her breath. Beside herself with giddy anticipation for her nerves to take rest, yet giddy. I removed the paper from her red sandal and crumpled it up in my pocket. Took her blood-stained arm in mine, hiding the implications, & we strolled out into the great wide-open, far out of reach. Past the red caution tape. Past the glaring red lights. Past the loud shadows. I watched her yawn carelessly, as she nestled safely into my arm, now, too, stained with his blood from her sleeve. She’s safe; always, with me. Mission accomplished. I’m satisfied. Always unwavering. Her shoulder to lean on. She sighed, as she unwraps another peach-flavored treat from my pocket. Adorable. Definitely. Love Her.