Everything you expect (A Modern Fairy Tale)

"I saw her in a field.  She was damn near naked, and there were....white feathers all around.  She looked so peaceful, I couldn't approach her, or even try to.  But I wanted to so badly, it felt like I was exploding,"  Kyan said, setting his drink down.  Often, he found himself talking to his best friend, Susan about the mystery girl he sees every day walking to and from work.  He used to see her in the cab he took every morning, but gave up the cab just so he could pass her more closely.  She was always walking opposite of him, and on some days looked to be all business, with a purpose in her eyes just as fiery as her hair.  Most days, though, see walked as if she were dreaming.  Kyan hoped she wasn't dreaming about a man, because he certainly dreamed about her enough.1

Susan grinned.  "You know what, Kyan?"  He shook his head, looking at his feet.  "Follow her.  She can't keep being a dream to you, or you'll ruin everything."2

"Ruin everything?"3

"Yeah, you know, you'll expect her to be perfect like in your dreams, then when you meet her, if she has any flaw at all, you'll be taken off guard and disappointed."4

Kyan considered.  "You're right, but you're talking stalkery here.  How am I supposed to follow her without her noticing and me coming off as a freak?"5

Susan laughed and pushed Kyan off his barstool.  "Maybe she likes freaks!"6

Kyan picked himself up off the floor, playing mad at Susan.  "There goes your Christmas card.  Give me some real advice or die."7

Susan thought.  "Well, you could pretend to drop something when you pass her, then introduce yourself or at least leave your business card or something."  Seeing the doubt written all over Kyan's face,she urged, "Oh come on, be brave!  You don't want to spend the rest of your life sitting on your couch, drinking beer, and talking to Louie, do you?" Susan gestured towards the old, fat tabby cat Kyan loved so much.8

Kyan sighed.  "Not really."9

They stood up.  Kyan gave Susan a hug and let her out the door.  Then he turned to Louie.  "She didn't mean that," Kyan chuckled. 10

The next day was brisk.  Kyan made his way up Kansas Street, tightening his scarf around him.  Then, he saw her, as if in slow motion, she was walking towards him, her hair bouncing in its loose curls just below her shoulders.  She was wearing a black pea coat and blue jeans, just comfortable enough to look classy, without being overdone.  Her nose and cheeks were terribly rosy, and Kyan had the almost overwhelming urge to give her his scarf.  She was drawing closer, closer...11

Kyan dropped his briefcase.  A month's worth of work flew into the frosty streets.  And she froze.  Just...froze.  No words, no actions.  Kyan was standing ten feet away from his dream woman, and they were looking at each other, both frozen.Kyan took a deep breath.12

"I have had a crush on you for about eight months.  I see you everyday going to and from work.  I started walking just so I'd see you up close.  I dream about you every night, and I dropped that briefcase on purpose."13

She stood, frozen still, and a small tear escaped the corner of one of her eyes.  Without a word, and slowly as could be, she extended her arm.  "Adia"  she said.14

All day at work, Kyan couldn't think about anything but the tear that escaped her left eye.  What did it mean?  Five minutes till lunch break, he thought.  He looked down at his notepad.  Adia was written all over it.  There was a knock on his office door.  "Do you have that paperwork, Kyan?"  His boss asked.  15

Kyan smiled.  "Nope."16

Walking home, he was very nervous.  He wanted to see Adia, and her wanted to see her NOW.  Right on cue, his angel in the black pea coat was rounding Kansas street.  She glanced at him, then down at her feet.  Her walk was different tonight.  Kyan reached out to touch her when she passed.17

"Can...I walk you home?"  He asked.  She nodded.18

They made their way down Kansas street, and Kyan found himself speechless.  He decided to make a feeble attempt at dialogue.19

"So...you're not freaked out by my stalker-crush?"20

Adia shook her head.21

"This might sound a little presumptuous of me, but would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"22

Adia paused, and tilted her head as if considering.  She nodded and continued walking.23

"Well....would you need time to get ready or anything?"24

She shook her head.25

Kyan stopped.  Adia stopped too.  He touched her arm.  "Would you say something to me?"26

Adia burst out in tears.  Out of nowhere, she gave Kyan a great big hug.  Leaning on him, she pulled her right sleeve up to her elbow.  He found it hard to look at his goddess's mutilated arm.  There were horizontal and vertical scars, fresh ones and older ones, scars in the shape of flames, and whatever you could imagine.  "I didn't think anyone would ever want me," she sputtered.  "I lost hope."27

Kyan took her face in his, forcing her to look into his eyes.  "You know how I can tell I love you?" She Shook her head.  "Because all I see when I look at those scars is a need to help you.  I don't feel disgusted at all.  You're still my angel."28

Hand in hand, they walked down the rest of Kansas Street.  Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.  Their hands never parted once.  The battered goddess had her needy prince, and the average working man had the goddess from his dreams.29