I sit now wrapped in a blanket, typing to the drip-drop of drizzles on my window, occasionally glancing up to admire my mountains veiled in mist. And I envision...
I scrape drying jam from the counter as my knight in shining armor dashes out the door, barely stopping for his briefcase, a kiss, and a harried look. I almost see the brilliant orange of Alpine autumn before the door slams again. Little ones gallop about, dotting the floor with jelly beans and bumping walls as they go. Shrieking joyfully and waving their stubby arms to catch my attention. A half-empty bowl of milk teeters on the countertop and crashes to the ground. Amidst shards of glass, kicking limbs in my arms, and drip-drops of milk on the stools, we laugh.
I absent mindedly brandish my chef's knife, crush potent garlic cloves under its weight, and toss sizzling flavor into my screaming pan. Six new orders catch my eye. Chef sees them too. Through the steamy haze, he barks something about slow knifes and still hands and I hastily turn back to my station. 7 o'clock, the dinner rush on Sunset is hardly over. Sweat drip-drops at my hairline, then joins tomato puree and pomegranate juice on my sleeve as I move to wipe my brow. I sigh at the clock, and then smile as my hands restart their work.
In any city, whomever I am with, I hope I will remember the 19 year old clattering away on her keyboard, terrified to choose. I hope she is who she's always wanted to be. I hope she lives exactly how she has always wanted to live. She will be happy. She will have settled for nothing and she will continue to reach for everything.
♥
