Something I wrote nearly two years ago:
He walked down the hallway without a destination in mind. Aimlessly moving, yet purposefully making strides towards her. He knew he couldn't seek her out. Knew that it would look too obvious. He also knew that if someone on the outside would look past their own self-absorbed bubbles, they might see that the floor which led from his office to her own bore the tread marks of a man who longed for a glimpse, a smile, a flip of the hair, a few whispered words ... something ... anything to simmer his raw desire that struggled against its meticulously placed shackles ... his desire that yearned to be free.
He never had to walk far to quench his desire. She was usually there ... half expecting him and half hoping he would show up. She could sense his presence, even when he wasn't yet in her vicinity. She had a half-assed conversation with another co-worker just so it wouldn't look too obvious. Because if this person, who was unknowingly used as a pawn, would look past their own self-absorbed bubble, they might realize that though she looked the part of the intent listener, she was in fact not able to register one word. For her thoughts were with him. Waiting. Hoping for a glimpse. A smile. An accidental, yet perfectly orchestrated brush of his body against hers. Because her desire was right at the surface. Yearning to burst through the layers of cordial behaviour.
Their eyes locked. Their smiles were slight. Their lips were hungry.
When they were finally alone, or so it seemed to them, they leaned into each other and then quickly remembered where they were. Regaining composure and acting as professionally as they could with one another, given the very apparent circumstances. They spoke loosely of work matters. Barely paying attention to the conversation that they tried hard to sustain. Thinking of only one thing. Unable to pry themselves away but resisting the temptation of lingering too long.
Little did they know that they worked with very perceptive people. People who wondered. People who noticed. People who denied the absurdity of it all. People who hoped that it wasn't true. And not because they thought office romances were wrong. Not because they didn't want them to be happy. But because these two people ... this man and this woman ... are walking a very dangerous line. These two people ... this man and this woman ... they cannot belong to each other for they belong to other people. They are a husband and they are a wife. A father and a mother.
And they need to get out of the self-absorbed bubble that they have created for themselves.
2 hours ago
