Lines

It's later in the afternoon and the temperature has finally begun to drop outside and it is perfect for being outdoors. Thomas replies "I'll pick you up." I love the initiative. He arrives at the time he said he would in his black AMG GT 73. This is his second one. We head back to his penthouse with a wrap-around private balcony facing northeast. A perfect view of the city I watch grow before my eyes and vice versa. I love this view. It's quite beautiful but I'm uncomfortable being here. In our many years of friendship, I have never met his husband. I think it would be weird if I made that an issue were just friends after all... but his husband is never here. "Tea, water?" I appreciate how genuine he is. He knows me. "Tea ..thank you." We sip tea over the balcony. Then head down to the first floor through the lobby and across the street where we came to a park. Through the park, we walked to a trail called The Atlanta Beltline. It was like finding an oasis in the desert that is Buckhead. I can't remember what we talked about but I remember every time there was silence it was comfortable. For me, that speaks volumes when you can be comfortably silent with someone. The sun is setting quicker lately so we decide to head back. Back at his flat, he asks if I'm hungry... not sure why my mind says no... but my stomach is telling and growling loud enough for us both to hear. He offers to cook. "Do you like paninis? I just got this new maker... You eat turkey, right? I got you..." I'm lost for words. How come none of my previously dysfunctional on again off again relationships never feel this easy? Maybe I should marry someone I've never had sex with. I'm anxious. I wanna smoke. I roll up... he cooks. Homemade food is always a win for me. After eating we run to the store beneath his building for more cigars. He tells me to grab him a leaf while he makes a call. I know he's calling his husband. I wonder why the big secret. After purchasing a leaf, game greens, and a pack of sour skittles I walk back outside the store where Thomas is ending his phone call. "You ready to go?" I say forcing a smile. My anxious passive-aggressive self cringes. He smirks but he can tell my energy is different and I see the pain in his eyes. "You wanna go?" I quickly reply "No rush." ...Look, he says. He's looking up at the sky. I look up to see the moon luminous and brighter than I've ever seen before. "What's that beside the moon?" he asks. I look again "I'm not sure." There's a tiny bright light beside the moon it almost looks like a giant star. We wait for it to move and it doesn't. Thomas pulls out his phone before I can. Once again I love his initiative. He discovers on the interwebs that it's Mars. To see a planet with my own eyes for the first time in my life was breathtaking. This year has been a year I will remember for years to come.