"remember, inhale exhale" came the voice behind me

I always forgot that part.

usually i can't breathe around guys. i hold my breath because i'm scared every moment with them will be my last because i'll say or do something stupid. so i hold my breath out of fear.

you help me remember to take in air. i'd forgotten how sweet cool air tasted on an autumn night.

---

"Are you human?"

I looked up to see who was asking me such a silly question. "What?"

"I asked, 'Are you human?'"

"Why would you ask that? Is my skin green, my ears pointy? Is my tail showing again?"

"No, not today," he actually looked at my butt to check, "and your ears look fine. Your skin's more red than green."

This only made me blush further. "Then what makes you think I'm not human?"

"I was sitting over there and I noticed that the entire time you were standing here with the guy who just left that you did not breathe once."

"You were watching me for over fifteen minutes to see if I breathed; are you some kinda freakish stalker?"

"No, not at all. You caught my eye because you were pretty, and while I was wondering about why I never had such pretty girls hanging around me, I realized that you didn't exhale. I was beginning to wonder whether you could breathe through your skin."

I'd never heard anyone say a compliment that cooly. I chose to ignore it. "And why is my respitory system any business of yours?"

"I was worried you might pass out..."

"Well, thank you for your concern, but as you can see I am quite conscious."



10/19/05 3:08 A.M.
(c) Meghann Pardee