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End of June 2006
I awaken
A dream surfaces
An elegant lobby
Black marble floors
Fine furnishings
Framed paintings on the walls
A young woman
A smart two-piece
Gray pinstriped
Business suit
Strides toward me
A spiral staircase
To her left
She smiles
Annie’s smile
A Persian Afro
Soft curls
Older now
Late twenties
Early thirties
I think
Lovely
Now
Right here
Standing
Open-armed
I advance
Squeeze her to me
Feel her
Squeeze back
Feel
Our embrace
All those years ago
How long?
Annie
Still petite
Just like
Back when
We tried
To say
Goodbye
March 1971
Thirty-five years
I am
Younger
Lighter
Now
Than
In years
We step back
Take each other in
Head to toe
Back up again
Come together
Once more
Hold on tight
A minute
Two minutes. . . three
A buckling
Of knees
She falls
Slips
Through my arms
To the black marble
I crouch
Hold her
Hold her up
Annie
I say
Annie
Her eyes
Wet
Brim
She says
Do you . . .
Remember?
I nod
Say one word
Unforgettable
She says
Unforgettable?
Me? Us?
I nod
Whisper hoarsely
Yes. You. Us.
Every day
Annie touches
My cheek
It’s all right
It’s okay
I take
Her fingers
In my hands
Kiss them
One by one
She says
I have a good life
You do, too
I know
Once more
Steady
On her legs
Annie rises
To her feet
Ahuvi
She says
In Hebrew
(She remembers)
I must go
She backs away
Floats
On my knees
Arms empty
I reach out
A sad smile
The spiral staircase
The black marble
The fine furnishings
The framed paintings
Fade
Annie’s gone
Annie
I cry out
Dooset daram
Published: Jun 10, 2014
Latest Revision: Aug 20, 2014
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