Member-only story
10 Dreams I’ve Had About You Within The Last Month
By Ari Eastman
1. We’re in New York sitting in a cramped apartment and I’m mad at all the honking outside. Instinctively, I’m yelling back at them, as if the taxis are going hear my frustration and suddenly practice considerate driving. “WHY WON’T THEY JUST SHUT UP, IT IS SO RUDE!!!” You cup my face with your hands and kiss my forehead. Sweetheart, you sigh. I melt into your fingers. I can’t hear anything anymore.
2. It’s freezing cold on that hill again, our bodies huddling for warmth. The sky looks like it’s been dipped in paint, reds and purples blending together somewhere in the middle. I’m losing circulation in my feet, but I don’t care. I could stay here forever.
3. I’m crying so hard, I can barely breathe. So are you. It’s not romantic or haunting or a testament to how deeply we loved. It’s guttural. There’s glass everywhere but I don’t remember breaking anything.
4. We bump into each other at the deli on Hartz Ave and are forced into an awkward hug. You tell me you’re getting married in a few months. You just put a downpayment on a house. I congratulate you, but it feels mechanic. We’re going through the motions. We’re being pleasant for show. We’re doing what we think we’re supposed to.
