April moves on you strong, breath full of life, smiling and asking you for the time. You look at your watch, which is worn by definition, and smile back at her that you have no idea what time it is. She doesn’t believe you- she’d be foolish to, and takes your arm, your hand, your watch, and measures out the hands herself. This is what you were longing for.
“It’s 2 p.m. Why’d you have to be so difficult?”
“You don’t know?”
“Surprise me.” She says, but she knows.
“At 3 you’re leaving. I don’t want you to leave.”
“I don’t want to leave either.” With this she rolls her eyes and then looks you square in the eyes, “You know that that don’t you?” There’s a hint of a tear in her eye. “You’re so stupid.”
“I do.”
“I didn’t plan for Nashville. I didn’t. But now Tennessee is there and I have this contract and I guess I have to go and write some songs.”
“Don’t let them cheat you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Insist on getting paid by the tear- that’s the only real currency down there.”
“I’ve had plenty of those- I don’t need to go to Nashville to get more. You’ll be o.k., won’t you? I’ll write you, I promise.”
“I’ll be fine.” I lie. I kiss her softly, almost more a whisper than a kiss, and watch as she turns and walks away, the sun framing her figure, rhythm in her steps.