Head Over Flats - Guy

I fell in love with Guy on a very mild wintery Wednesday afternoon. I was walking to the bank and listening to music. The sun was shining and a Chinook (warm wind off the mountains that melts all the snow and gives us nicer weather for a few days in the middle of an otherwise miserable winter) was blowing merrily from the West. I had my sunglasses on and it felt almost like summer for the first time in ages.

Sondre Lerche’s cover of “Let My Love Open the Door” was playing. If you’re not familiar with it, you should check it out. It’s one of those bright and beautiful songs that you can easily fall in love to.

As I strolled up to the entrance, I saw a young man on his way out. He was not tall, perhaps only an inch taller than me. He wore a checkered shirt (no jacket, Chinooks are lovely), a bow tie, grey slacks and brown leather shoes. He had a bag over his shoulder, and he was putting a folder with papers into it as he walked. He was not looking up.

It was instinct, (and also party because Emily had sent me a glorious feminist tirade about how courtesy shouldn’t be gender biased) I pulled the door open and stood aside holding it for him. He gave me a look. I have since replayed said look an unnecessary number of times in my head and still haven’t figured out what exactly it meant. I thought I saw surprise, appreciation, amusement, playfulness and something ineffable in his eyes and brow.

I saw his lips moving, “Thank you very much.” I heard Sondre Lerche singing, “Let my love open the door to your heart.”

I smiled at him as he stepped out; he smiled back with sincerity and dimples, winter sky blue eyes dancing in his face. My heart skipped a beat, I nearly tripped. Then he awkwardly reached for the door to hold it open for me in turn as I went into the bank and away from him.

I then realized I’d been humming the song out loud. I turned to look back. He had let the door fall to, and stood in profile, silhouetted by the glass. He was still there smiling; he shook his head and walked away.

“I believe
in love at first sight
but I will always believe
that the people
we love
we have loved before.
Many, many, many times before
and when we stumble
through grace and circumstance
and that brilliant illusion of choice
to finally meet them again,
we feel it faster
each time through.
The one glance
that set life alight
is two sets of two eyes
staring through the layers
of lifetimes and stolen glances
and first kisses and hands held;
the brace against the weight
and unrelenting tide
of waiting.
I believe
in love at first sight
but am not burdened with the misconception
that it's a first sight
at all.” (Tyler Knott Gregson)