Prologue
My dear friends, I would like to relate to you a story of Passion and beauty. Its so surreal. Truth be told, I'm not even sure it actually happened... It might have been a dreamβ a glorious, heady dream, my friends. If you're interested in reading on, I must warn you: this story, a vivid blur, is etched into my mind for its might. If you are not of the Passionate and very open mind, you might take offence.
One
They sparkled.
I'll get back to them in but a moment, for you know not of where we were or what we were in the process of doing. We, that is me, Dorian, and my friends, that is Peter, Max and Carl, sat in our seats at the Victoria Concert Hall. We had gotten tickets to see the works of Tchaikovsky, in a presentation known as Poetry and Passion, under the direction of one Frederic Weissmann. The hall was very impressive, made more so by the fact that we had a box right next to the players, where I assumed the sound would be the most impressive (and knew the players would be clearly visible). The hall, filled with black and white suits, with the odd splash of colour here and there (such as a rose corsage, a bright tie and even the odd blue or green dress). But, my friends, while I went to the Victoria to envision beauty, I had not an idea of what form it would come in, or rather, I had the wrong idea.
They sparkled. Her eyes that is... I thank the heavens I was gifted with sharp eyesight; I could have easily missed them otherwise. Our eyes met at the same time. I knew it for a fact, because eyes don't glint quite the same when they look off. No. These eyes met mine.
"So do you think it'll be any good? I don't know this Tchaikoffskee fellow too well," asked Carl (he frequents not these artistic and emotive areas, but rather bars and cinemas and the like). "Dorian? Did you hear me?"
"Huh? What?" I said, startled, for I was taken away from my dreamy reverie.
"I asked if you thought that the umm, 'Poetry and Passion' would be any good," answered Carl.
"Oh. Uh, well it should be. I've heard good things about Weissmann and I know Tchaikovsky's music is good. So full of life and well, as the title puts it, Passion," I answered him.
The lights dimmed, for the concert was about to start. The hall fell quiet and the last of the players stopped practising and tuning their instruments. Out came Weissmann. He was a balding man, about fifty, but with an air that immediately, even from our distance, calmed and soothed. He was a man to be respected, one could see it, or perhaps feel it, right away. He had on a traditional black and white tuxedo with the most elegant violet pinned to his lapel. I wondered if he wore it out of symbolism, but before I could finish my thoughts, the crowed clapped for him and with such vigour that it near split our eardrums.
"Thank you ladies and gentleman," he said, in an effort to silence the roaring crowed, "Thank you, but if you keep on like this our ears will be in too poor a condition to appreciate the subtleties of the orchestra!" The crowd gave a little laugh to this and silenced for the dignified man.
And it was then that the orchestra started to play. They started off really light with Romance. I realized only now, for I had been drawn in by the conductor's charisma, that I forgot about that young lady, that delicate flower. I looked back to where she was sitting. She was still there. Oh she was the vision of heaven! Among all the dreary blacks and whites, she was dressed in the height of fashion, in a crimson red dress. It started on her shoulders, with thin straps that may or may not have gone down her back. In the front I could see that they went part of the way down her chest and stopped for silky fabric that covered the rest of her body in such perfection that it appeared to be a second skin all the way down to her hips. From there, I could see no more, for she was covered by the railing of her box. Her skin was a light colour, very white, but not so much as to appear pale or gaunt, but rather quite immaculate. I wanted a better look at her face, which I assumed had the same beauty as her dress and great, glorious, and glamourous hair (not as red as her dress, but equally attractive {long and curly}. Silky smooth, the dress and hair, I would imagine). I whispered to Peter, "Pete, did you bring those opera glasses?"
He looked at me, frowned for a moment, looked in his brief case and handed me the recovered item. "Thanks," I whispered, but I don't think he could hear me, him being too into the Poetry bit.
I looked through the binoculars. She wasn't there anymore. My heart sank. All I had was a mere glimpse of her and more emotion was evoked from my loss of her (if I may call is such) than by the entire concert (which was quite thrilling, Tchaikovsky being a favourite of mine)!
I tried to forget about her and enjoy the concert. I simply couldn't. Waltz of the flowers couldn't even take my mind off her. I thought to myself of how silly I was being. Love doesn't just happen like that! I was attracted to her beauty and no more. The male mind, being what it is, made me want to find her, but my reason told me otherwise. I should just stay here with my friends and enjoy this concert!
Even the 1812 Overture, my favourite song, couldn't tear my mind from her. She was like a bird in winter or an azure sky of deepest summer. I was so looking forward to this concert and now it was ruined!
The concert ended, with much applause, but I was not around to hear the extent of it. I left as soon as the last cannon belched fire, I couldn't take sitting there anymore. I handed Peter his oculars and left before he could ask me where I was off to. I think he assumed I sorely needed to go to the bathroom.
As I walked down the grand, burgundy-carpeted staircase, I heard a little noise, like a woman weeping. I stopped and listened for a moment. Nothing. I started off again, going down the stairs and about to enter the main hallway when there it was again. It was closer now and certainly a woman crying. "Hello?" I shouted, not too loud, "is everything alright? Anyone hurt?"
Still nothing. I decided to go to the bathrooms, before leaving, after all. As I came closer to the destination, the weeping got louder. It was someone in the woman's washroom. I knocked on the door. "Hello? Is everything alright in there?" But the weeping went on. I couldn't help myself, the curiosity burning within me, coupled with that inspiration known only to providence, led me to open the door.
And lo and behold! She stood there, alone. Her. Her! I was speechless for a moment. She looked up at me and remembered me as I had her. I could see it in her eyes.
"I-I--I" I stuttered, "I came to see what the problem was. A-are you alright?"
She sniffled a little. "No..." she said, really hoarse-like, "my dress ripped at the seam as I went down the stairs. There was a loose thread, apparently, and it got caught in my heels... Thank god there was no one around at the time."
"Oh my. Well uh..." I was at this point trying to think of something to say or do for her, but nothing came to mind right away. "How are you getting home? Did you come with anybody?" I asked, perhaps a bit too quickly.
"I don't know, I took a limo here and was supposed to meet a friend, but she called sick a few minutes later. You wouldn't have any safety pins or anything would you?"
"Uh no... but uh, you could uhh," I was still trying to think of something half intelligent to suggest, but her beauty distracted me, "you could wear my belt and uh, use my tie to wrap around your chest, so as to keep your dress whole until you can get home"
"Oh thank you!" she gave me a light kiss on the cheek. It was like an electric shock. A bolt of pink lightning. She jumped back a bit and said, "oh! I'm sorry... I uh, I don't even know your name. Who can I thank for this aid?" she asked really shyly (perhaps that was a farce).
"Dorian, Dorian Ray. And you are -?" she looked almost startled. "Uh I'm uh," she was even more shy and awkward than me (or pretended to be). I found it to be quite endearing, especially with her cheeks all puffed out from crying. Her makeup was still in prime condition, surprisingly enough. "I'm Julia, Julia O'Flaherty."
I smiled warmly at her. "It's a pleasure to meet you miss O'Flaherty."
"Oh, you can call me Juli-" it was at that moment that a large, older woman chose to enter the washrooms. Julia and I, being in our own world together, didn't hear the concert-goers leaving the hall. "What are you doing here young man!?" she shouted, "this is a ladies room! Get out of here! Shoo, shoo!" she nearly pushed me out the door, but didn't quite. Julia followed me.
"Thanks again," she said bashfully.
My mind was racing, I figured I'd offer her a ride, but I didn't know how to. The words couldn't come out. I needed this young woman. It may have been primal instinct or much more, I don't know, nor will ever know. She had my tie around her chest, just under her breasts and it served as a bit of a push up bra. She saw me looking at them and I blushed. "Sorry," I said.