Curious Laura

“The degradation of an individual does not encompass the certainty by which that individual sees himself. For one to see himself in true light requires both certitude and verity. It is only with a lack of levity in character that one rises above the trifles of day to day life to obtain light. Sometimes–no, most of the time, we need each other to obtain light,” Dr. Emmerich said. His words slightly echoed in the lecture hall.

Emmerich was old, frail and had a calm demeanor about him that indicated his total and utter acceptance of his state of being. His tweed jacket seemed to have been surgically stitched to him, for one never saw him with any other jacket.

“He’s an idiot,” whispered Laura, “I’m going to Mack’s…you coming?”

Laura was young, pretty and–to put it bluntly, hot. She was the type of girl that you’d fool around with even though you had nothing in common apart from unhindered raging hormones.

“Sure,” I said.

Mack’s was a regular hangout for the five of us. We’d spend hours on end wasting time, talking about nothing and everything. Every time I decided to do something interesting, useful, or remotely beneficial, I’d be overwhelmed by the sheer mind-numbness of dazed and confused freshmen.

“Dude, where’re you off to?” Andrew said.

“Dorm,” I said as I stepped outside Mack’s. I needed timeout.

“I’m coming with you,” Laura said.

I wasn’t getting timeout.

My dorm room was Spartan at best. There were some textbooks and notebooks strewn on the floor and a few unwashed tees and boxers peering from a basket.

“Told you it’s not much to look at,” I said.

“You know, you’re the kind of guy I’d want to know more about. You make me…curious, Michael,” Laura said.

Laura was very curious. She was very, very curious. I’d never wanted to know as much about her as she did about me. It was fun, though. It was also one of those things, when you’re out there having fun, enjoying whatever comes your way, then suddenly–bham! You get hit on the face with,

“I love you.”

She’s nuts, I thought.

“I love you too, Laura.”

• fiction
• writing