Midnight Diner

 The light twinkled outside the diner as the road sign glitched in the rain. There was an eery feel within the setting that felt so chilling but still lingered with a weird sense of comfort. I sat in the windowsill observing the cars that drove by on the road as the rain cascaded in dribs and drabs. I sat there with a coffee, alone yet content. People always seem to long for a partner: someone to confide in.

I looked to my right (and I see the Hollywood sign) and my eyes are met with the most endearing site.

“I have stared into your eyes every day for 63 years but no matter how many times I do so, it is as if I look upon the sky for the very first time.” The man uttered these words to his wife as she stared in adoration. Looking upon these two with an open heart, the light in life was scene. Taking in the gentleman's words, a chord was struck within me. I was perfectly content with solitude in my ripe young age but looking upon the loving couple I feel respect. A momentary desire to feel as they feel flashes by, but it settles deeply within when I realise what that would include. I simply cannot justify considering someone else in every second of my being when I would never do the same for myself.

He tucks a strand of her silver hair behind her ear as she reaches for his arm, stroking his skin in a comforting manner. I smiled to myself as tears threatened at the edge of my eyes. I felt happiness seeing others in such a light.  Strong emotions consumed me as I felt so alive and human. I feel elated seeing the joy in others without having to experience the hardships of a relationship myself.

The seat next to me then shrieked across the floor as I felt his presence sit down beside me. A moment I had been dreading was knocking upon my door and the groundsman began to dig my grave: deeper than the earth will hold. I turned to him and sighed as I braced myself with a deep breath and a sip of the bitter-sweet drink that I confide in daily.

“Johny, you know what is about to happen don’t you?” He nodded his head gently. It lacked certainty as he hoped that he was wrong, having a funny turn, a nightmare, stuck in the wrong universe, awaiting the UFO to bring him back to earth.

I steadied my breaths as I began: “Johny, as I look at you, I realise I am more in love with the first time I saw you than I am now. Perhaps I am too weak to sustain a relationship. I think it is me that stands in the way of us. I am too closed off and untroubled by the likely prospects of eternal solitude.”

A tear trickled down my cheek as I felt a weight lift from my shoulders only to settle back down in my heart. I felt for a moment that I could not breathe but I knew that this was best: best for me and for him. I will never be able to love him as he should be loved. Though I can’t be sure of what went wrong, I know it did.

“Rachel, you know I always loved you. I hoped that I could break that shell of yours but the strong woman you are would never give into a man like me.”

“Please stop Johnny. The only way you could make me feel right now is if you wrote a riddle or a poem. The truth is our relationship was too simple. It lacked both understanding and mystery, simplicity and challenge, love and pain.” It lacked substance and intellect. Johnny was kind and sweet but unmotivated and lost. Whilst I am often both of those things, I have dreams, intentions and a way in which I wish to live my life. No matter where I am, who I am or what I am, I will always have an appreciation for the life that lives around me: the blue of the sky, the winter morning frost, the birds that flock overseas, seeking a home to set their nest and confide in safety. No matter what, I will always breathe in every moment of every journey. Johnny was part of that journey and I have just indicated for the turning from the burning hot sand to the smooth concrete bridleway between the tall woods of Daintree National Park.

I look back to the big glass window of the diner. The moon stands still in the night sky and the stars twinkle at my newfound freedom. I took a breath, settling into the new feeling of comfort: alone. I glanced back to my parents as they sat in the window. Love blazing between the couple as my father handed over a beautiful blue box complete with a ribbon. My mother gasped as she unwrapped a pair of pearl earrings. I smiled as the two shared their memories and lifelong companionship. My father touched my mother’s hair before turning to me with a smile, offering comfort before the bell dinged and the boor swung shut followed by Johny’s shadow.

Requested by @melbancom. Not entirely sure if this what you had imagined but technically both a couple and dialogue is involved.

EXTRA POINTS TO WHOEVER UNDERSTOOD THE JOKE… OR SPOTTED IT.