135. Ladders: Write a story or poem that uses ladders as a symbol.

FIRST RUNG

Four eyes, two pairs. Meeting across the room. Hello, brown eyes. Meet my blue ones.

Hello. So said we. Expanding the air with silent talk.

Hello. Hello. Hello. You're cute.

Step one: first step.

Stood up. Walked over. Hello, brown eyes. Nice to meet you. I already like you. How funny. So easy to like someone, just for their smile.

And their eyes. Don't forget the eyes.

I never have. Work isn't over yet. So many bars. The top is high. Don't fall when going up.

Go out? Sure.

SECOND RUNG

Coffee. Aromatic and warm. Warm like you. Warm like you make me feel.

Keep it up. I still like you.

Ask me about myself. Tell me about yourself. Imperative: I command you with my eyes.

Currents flow. From me to you.

I like you. I really do.

Kiss. I see us leaning forward. Our lips meet. Flesh to flesh.

Explosion. Oh, yes. I like kissing.

Or maybe I like the way you do it.

Irrelevant. Let's do this again.

THIRD RUNG

Smile at me. There's the heat. The casual way you do it: Hold my hand, slip your arm around my shoulder.

Is this...?

Silver Honda. I climb in. The passenger seat starts to feel like mine.

Wait, what?

I am not ready.

Sure I am.

No, I'm not.

Oh. Your mother. Do you love her?

You do. So I will try to.

Tell me. About her. About everything. Tell me who you are, please. I will listen.

Words in the air. Swirl around me. They are me.

Let's meet her.

FOURTH RUNG

Similar. I already see how similar. Her nose. Your nose.

The exact same.

Spitting. I don't do it. Neither do you. Or her. But the image is spitting.

She likes me. Already. No catch of eye. No iris to iris. She already likes me.

How?

You told her. Your mother heard. Your words reached her. Of me: praise, love, admiration.

Did you really say so?

Grins, like suns. How you do light up my life.

Fifth Rung

I remember when it happened.

We became a thing.

Our names interchangeable.

Our names paired. One out of two. Merging.

Let's get married?

Yes. Yes, a thousand times yes.

Yes. I love you.

You love me?

How crazy is that.

Hugs and kisses. More of them.

Glints of a diamond. Weight on my finger. I never thought I would be so happy. Could be so happy.

FIFTH RUNG

Flowers. Spring. Whispers of dresses. Men with their arms around ladies. Smiles. Laughter. Devotion.

Wedding.

Shaded gaze. I wait for you to lift the veil.

See my face. Tears sparking. I want to kiss them away.

Waterproof makeup.

Vows. Promise me everything. I will do the same.

You may now kiss me.

We belong to each other now.

I present to them: us.

*

A/N: I just really love love stories.