The Coffee Cup

You know when you are so lost in your head in denial that the world seems secondary and less real than your thoughts?

“Please try to understand,” you plead.

I can feel your hesitation as you attempt to look into my eyes, but my gaze has not left the smooth handle of the coffee cup resting on the edge of the circular glass table that separates us. I can hear your words blowing passively in the wind, feel them tenderly stroke my cheek as they gradually make their way up to my ears, and form a home inside my head. My eyes move slowly from my cup, delicately caressing the table towards you, stopping abruptly at your mouth. My heart swells in my chest at the sight of your perfectly sculpted lips. I remember the way they pressed firmly against mine for the first time years ago, catching me off guard. My mind wanders as I recall how you tentatively took my hand in yours, wrapped your other arm around my waist like a vine snaking around a lightpost, and pulled me in close. You leaned to the right a bit so your mouth was centimeters from my left ear and parted your lips, your breath warm against my skin. My ear tickled as you spoke those three words. Was it really so long ago?

Lost in memories, I realize your lips have been dancing, trying to tell me something, but I do not hear a sound. I attempt to make out your words, but they sail from your mouth and hit the tiled floor beneath us. I think I can hear the collision as they fall, but I am not certain. Is it raining? I glance out the window crafted in the wall behind you, consumed with thoughts of the weather and wonder if I am losing my mind. The clouds have taken over the horizon line, but there is not a water droplet in sight. I close my eyes, engulfed in doubt and confusion, and try to collect my thoughts.

My eyes flash open as your fist smacks hard against the table. What are you doing? Your lips are moving rapidly now. I shake my head and try to refocus my eyes on your mouth, and strain to hear your muffled words, so lost to reality. You abruptly reach out and grab my chin, forcing my eyes to meet yours. A wave of distress crashes over me, as I notice an intensity and anger that I have never seen before in your usually peaceful, ocean-blue eyes. I can feel the saline start to stream down my face, and shamefully move my eyes to the ground. There they stay, as your words finally hit my chest.

“I don’t love you anymore.”

Your fingers loosen their grip on my chin and softly graze my cheek. I open my lips to protest the words I never expected to hear, but before I can get a sound out, you’re gone, and I am left here disillusioned, with nothing but a coffee cup to console me.

Reviews

[tylerb]

beautiful amzz

[sandyce]

Sheer poetry and powerful. The title was misleading, though appropriate - I wouldn't change it, or any part of it...except as I was reading it I heard the word :
delicately crossing the table to you,
instead of crossing...caressing the table toward you.

Just a thought. I love your writing though, so detailed without being over the top.

[LoveDens]

Mmm...rude character yet prissy thoughts.

Oftentimes, we mistakenly believe that lust can be considered as love. But these two are wholly different.

[Coyote Poetry]

Some sad moments will never leave us. I like the thoughts and story. I like the use of coffee in the poem. Coffee and conversation does walk hand in hand. Thank you for the excellent poem.
Coyote

[Frieda P]

Oh wow, I was absorbed from the very first word, that ending was like a punch in the chest. Nothing detracted from your line of fire, it's all perfect. And sad.

[KatJanGran]

Beautiful. Just beautiful!

[KAOlmsted]

This is where you shine...this is beautiful work that needs absolutely nothing added nor taken away...as close to perfection as writing gets...I love this piece.

[That_Girl]

That's how I felt. "This is where you shine"

[amz]

*blush* Gosh, thanks! You are too sweet. I'm really glad you love it, it was the hardest and favorite piece I ever had to write.

[KAOlmsted]

I really do...it reminded of something a friend once told me. She said sometimes you can be standing just an inch to left in your mind while all of reality goes on around you...I felt like that with this piece...you deserve to be proud of this, Ann-Marie, because it is that good.

[amz]

That's powerful. I love that..that's an amazing way to explain the slight distance from reality sometimes.

And thank you again :D It's my favorite piece I've everyone written but it's also a struggle to write anything that even compares to it, haha.

[KAOlmsted]

You're #2 on the popular writing list...good on ya. And yeah, isn't that how the Beatles felt after their White Album? *laugh*

[amz]

what! i am? :) that's amazing, thanks for letting me know!

coincidentally just got done watching nowhere boys..gotta love the beatles.

[KAOlmsted]

Yes ma'am...

[Baby Ricochet]

Nice poetic flair with high emotion. Great Job amz

[amz]

:) Yay thanks!

[Not Your Typical New Yo..]

A story that has some poetic elements. I like this. I like the flow that you are lost in your mixed emotions. A relationship on its end is, indeed, confusing, and you really, really captured that well. Good job, girl!

[amz]

Thank you! I really tried to capture the confusion and denial/absence from reality that comes with a tough time like a break up. I'm glad you liked it :)

[That_Girl]

Wow... this is wonderful. I mean, sad as hell and it made me cringe when 'he' said those words but you wrote it beautifully. My god, keep writing like this! :D

[amz]

Ahh, why thank you. This one really meant a lot to me. It was months worth of feelings pouring out one evening. I'm glad you like it :)

[That_Girl]

It did feel very personal. Bravo my dear! :)