It appears on tectonic plates of your heart. It ruins established order and turns the past into Pompei. You have to run away from it after the first signs of this natural disaster. Don’t be so spineless and week to love. That’s what I was telling to everyone ready to listen. I felt superior to all dependent people who got in trap. And I was punished severely.
For the first time I felt foreshock when my friends and me were sitting in the restaurant, relaxing after the hard working day.
Alex, - said one of them, addressing to me - You are the most handsome among us, why don’t you find someone to be with?
I don’t want to, since there is high possibility to fall in love - answered I, ready to start the discussion.
However everyone kept silence. Even my friend who started the talk, understood, what I was up to and didn’t want to spoil his evening.
Good afternoon. What would you wish to order? - The waiter came to our table with notebook.
One after the other my friends were making their orders. But I heard nothing out of their talks. Though I started to feel ill. My symptoms included sweating, fever, fast heart rate, ringing in the ears. I was looking at the waiter.
Excuse me, guys. Seems, I have a cold. I will better go home - said I rapidly, took my coat and rushed to the exit.
Get better! - Shouted astonished waiter, when I was already near the door. Our eyes met and I understood - people don’t run away from love, because it always catch them off-guard. And it doesn’t matter that seismic activity precedes the feeling. After the first earthquake shock it’s already too late to flee.
During the next weeks I often found myself near this disastrous restaurant, trying to deal with my feelings. I was searching for medicine that could heal me, but nothing and no one was able to help. Even alcohol made a temporary relief. That was the moment when I realized - we are not able to subdue love, we can only comply.
After the long hours of painful hesitation I opened the door of the restaurant and went to the table. I was full of hopes to eventually fall in love and to end my sufferings. In several minutes the waiter came to the table. He wore the same clothes and the same smile.
Good afternoon, sir. Are you ready to make an order?
Good afternoon. Can you bring me a bottle of rum and two glasses, please?
Of course, sir - without questions waiter made a polite bow and went away.
I was waiting for him to come. Uncontrollably my heart was creating seismic waves, arms were trembling. I was ready to serve the waiter, whose name I didn’t know, my soul on the plate. I was waiting for the relief of my sufferings.
Sir. Your rum is ready. May I help you with the glasses?
I have to talk with you.
Is everything ok, sir? You didn’t like something?
No. Everything is fine. This is private talk.
Then you will have to end till my shift is over, sir - he bowed again and went to the other table.
Next hours were full of hesitation. I was thinking about the nature of love. If the root cause of the earthquakes is certain earth powers, what caused me to be the epicenter of love activity? I was thinking about my evil fortune and relief I would feel when the love of mine would be shared.
Suddenly, the flow of my thoughts was interrupted by the question:
Would you mind if I sit here?
I saw the waiter in front of me and started to explore his features like a scientist, though I have never seen his face so close.
I am not that type of person, who will mumble and will be putting things off - the words were flowing out of my mind - So I have to say that I always felt superior to people in love. For thirty-five years I was trying to avoid any romantic feelings by all appropriate means but I failed. Now my heart is in your hands and I am condemned to wait for your answer.
Sir, I am sorry to say, but I going to ask my girlfriend to marry me. She is waiting near the restaurant now, so I have to go. Excuse me, if I gave you any hopes.
Something inside of me cracked into pieces. Not able to stay in the restaurant I went away. The unrequited love seemed to me the worst natural disaster. During this night and many nights after I was trying to collect shrapnel from myself.
I became a recluse. Sometimes my friends phoned me to tell the news. They were sensitive enough to be silent about the reason of my pain. New president. A parrot learnt to quote American constitution. Another explosion happened in the Middle East. Nothing was important for me until Irvin in a worried voice said:
Alex, you won’t believe me! The restaurant where we had a dinner on THAT day was robbed - Irvin never named the day when my madness started, cause she thought it was cursed - The waiter is the only suspect.
I put down the phone. I knew definitely who did that, since the earthquake always forces us to do the craziest things. Love is the worst calamity that could happen to the person.
The doorbell rang. As usual I ignored it, but the sound didn’t stop. It grew very irritating so I was forced to open the door.
Sir - said the suspect standing on his knees - I have done it for love. If your feelings are still the same could you help me?
By Alex Greg MacLean
Cell 213,
Pavelock Prison
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