"In the night hours the sweetest notes escape and a storm remains echoing inside me"
The young woman looked up at the night sky, noticing an airplane blinking as it sped away from the city. She wished she could travel, get away, even if she didn't know exactly where. She stubbed out her cigarette against the railing she was leaning on and tossed the butt into the nearest bin, promising herself that in the new year she would quit (just like the year before). She smoked to pass the time, not because she felt the need to. She used to go out in the evenings, stop somewhere, have a cigarette, and look around.
Her favorite spot was exactly where she was: on the roof of her building, isolated from the world, under the starry sky. No one would bother her, and she could think thanks to the silence surrounding her. It hadn't been a good time for her; for a few months, she had felt unusually sad and had lost the desire to do many things. It was as if she lacked reasons to keep going, and the desires she aspired to were becoming increasingly opaque.
She felt different, she felt like she was going crazy, even if it wasn't an explosive kind of madness. It was a silent madness, and because of that, it was unsettling.
Her dark eyes rested on the railing she was clinging to, and she sighed. She had never seriously thought about jumping or killing herself in other ways. She really cared about living, but she felt so empty and confused. She loved studying, which is why she had never felt out of place at her university, but the future was so uncertain, and she was beginning to wonder if it made sense to continue her studies or if it was just some sort of whim. Music made her feel more alive, in tune with the world, and she didn't want to give up those feelings.
"I'm just a coward..." she whispered, resting her head against the cold iron. Her eyes followed the light trails left by the vehicles speeding through the streets. One thing she never got tired of doing was watching the evening scenery: she loved the interplay of light and shadow and was always in the mood to fantasize about people's nightlife. Right at that moment, she noticed a woman talking animatedly with a man: they were probably arguing. Right on New Year's Eve... what a bummer.
She pushed away from the railing, turning toward the roof entrance, and that was when she noticed the presence of another person sitting right next to the door, an e-cigarette at her lips.
"Hey."
"I didn't say anything because I didn't want to bother you... even though for a moment I thought you wanted to jump."
The voice that reached the young musician's ears was melodic, almost sensual. As she stepped closer to the entrance, she got a better look at her: she was probably around her age and truly beautiful, with eyes enhanced by a stroke of eyeliner—simple but striking makeup. Her lips were curled into a friendly smile.
"What's your name?"
"Linn. You?"
"My friends call me Wendy. You can call me that too."
Wendy was a Western name, but the girl had Asian features. She had a truly delicate face, and Linn was fascinated by it.
"So?"
"What?" Linn asked, confused. Maybe she had missed part of the sentence.
"Were you going to jump, Linn?"
"Ah, no... No."
"Good." Wendy looked up at the sky and took a drag, while Linn stood before her, hands stuffed in her jacket pockets.
"Do you live here?"
"Not exactly. I have an apartment on the seventh floor." She smiled.
"Obviously, I meant in this building..." Linn blushed and tried to shake off her embarrassment by avoiding Wendy's gaze. For some reason, she wanted to keep talking to her and spend time with her, even if she was a stranger.
Wendy put her e-cigarette away and looked up at the musician. "Do you want to go to the river together? I heard there's an artificial light show."
"Oh, okay..." Linn couldn't understand how she could be so direct and confident. She envied her and was fascinated by it. Linn was fundamentally introverted, even if she let loose when she was with friends. She loved having moments of silence for herself where no one was looking for her or expecting anything from her. Often, she let herself drift into fantasies, realizing that society made her feel oppressed, and she wanted to escape reality whenever she could. She did it through her imagination and her music, though she knew acquaintances who preferred doing it with drugs and alcohol. She wondered if Wendy was like her too.
"Let's go then." Wendy stood up, and Linn got to see her outfit for the first time: she wore black jeans that suited her perfectly and a simple, branded white hoodie.
"Aren't you cold? Do you want my jacket?" Linn offered politely, but Wendy looked at her in amusement.
"Are you this sweet to everyone?"
Linn blushed again and stayed quiet. At that, Wendy chuckled and grabbed Linn's arm, leaning in close to her face. "If you're worried about me, you can always take charge of keeping me warm."
Wendy didn't say anything else for a while, just dragged her out of the building to head to the spot she had mentioned. Linn was dazed by what was happening: she was walking around with a stranger who made her blush every time she spoke. For some reason, though, she was happy about it. She loved solitude, but she wanted to get to know Wendy better.
"Do you study in the city too, by any chance?"
"Yes. What about you? Tell me a bit about yourself, you barely say anything."
"I study music."
"I like that." Wendy smiled. "You'll have to play something for me. What do you play?"
"Bass, though I studied piano in the past. Do you play anything?"
"Unfortunately, I'm hopeless." Linn smiled, and Wendy kept watching her for a moment. They were walking down the street, which wasn't particularly crowded, but Wendy had grabbed her arm, staying close to her the whole time. Linn certainly wasn't going to complain: she really liked that warmth.
"Isn't it weird? We don't even know each other, and we're hanging out alone on New Year's Eve... instead of spending it with friends or family." Linn said it quietly, as if it were their secret, avoiding the gaze of the girl beside her.
Wendy took a moment of silence, looking around and noticing numerous joyful couples, influenced by the festive atmosphere and the prospect of a new year. When she replied, she surprised the musician once again. "Yeah, it's weird. But... who knows, maybe it's destiny."
"Destiny?"
Wendy looked up at her and smiled seductively. "Don't we look like a couple right now?"
Linn looked around for the first time, seeing many young people who, like them, were holding hands or hugging, and she blushed instantly. Wendy laughed and teased Linn further.
"You're so cute... don't tell me you have a crush on me..."
Linn wanted to retort, but Wendy wasn't finished. "You're my type. You're kind, you're sincere, and besides... you're not too bad to look at." She winked and grabbed her hand, interlacing their fingers. "Look, even our hands look good together."
Linn focused on that detail, trying her hardest to calm her rapidly beating heart.
When they reached the show, they blended into the crowd eagerly waiting for the event to start. Linn pulled her phone from her jacket pocket and checked the time: there were still two hours until midnight.
"Do you have to be somewhere else?"
"No! No, sorry... I was just checking the time."
"Don't worry... if you had things to do, it wouldn't be a problem." Wendy lowered her head, watching the pebbles she was kicking with her black ankle boot. Linn worried she had offended her, so she squeezed her hand and leaned close to her ear to be heard over the growing noise of the crowd.
"I like being with you."
Wendy chuckled and turned toward her, catching her off guard with a kiss on the cheek, lingering dangerously close to her lips.
"Me too."
The light show started shortly after, sparking a wave of enthusiasm in the crowd. The play of colors was wonderful, a beautiful display to watch, even though Linn spent most of the time thinking about Wendy's proximity.
"Do you want to go grab a drink?"
"Sure."
When Wendy suggested going somewhere else, Linn didn't hesitate to follow her and agree to the request. They soon arrived at a stand serving drinks; nearby were some small tables with outdoor patio heaters. Wendy ordered a cocktail from the menu, while Linn opted for a glass of wine. She wasn't in the mood for anything fancy.
When they found a seat, Wendy grabbed Linn's hand and pulled her down beside her.
"Wine? How classy."
"I didn't know what else to get."
"My drink is good, I'll let you try it as soon as it arrives."
Linn smiled, resting her elbow on the table and propping her cheek on her palm. Her eyes didn't leave Wendy for a single second.
"Why are you staring at me? What are you thinking about?" Wendy smiled at the waiter who brought their drinks, then refocused on Linn. The musician was mysterious and sexy with that tormented gaze. Wendy went crazy for girls like her and could never resist. That being said, she sensed something different in Linn that had sparked this instant attraction. When she saw her leaning against the railing watching the street, she had felt a strange pang in her chest. She understood her, in a way, without even knowing her. After all, she too had chosen solitude for New Year's Eve.
"I'm just amazed. You're a really lovely person."
"Mh, so you thought you wouldn't have a good time with me?" She bit her lip, watching for Linn's reaction, who was quick to apologize.
"I didn't mean that, I'm sorry. I didn't know what to expect from our meeting, and I'm not an extroverted person... but I feel really comfortable with you. With some people, silence becomes awkward, and people get tired of it quickly, yet I feel like silences with you are really warm and comforting. I like it."
Wendy listened to every word, captivated by Linn's sincere gaze, and when she finished, she cupped her face and planted a kiss on her cheek. "I'm glad. I'd like to spend a few more hours with you."
Linn blushed and nodded quickly, diving into the drink in her hands to grab some liquid courage. It was entirely possible Wendy was hitting on her, and Linn didn't want to miss the opportunity: after all, it had been attraction at first sight for her.
"Want a taste?"
Wendy handed her the cocktail, and Linn took a sip, finding it tasty and refreshing. "Not bad."
"Now it's only fair that I steal some of your wine." The girl's eyes stayed locked on Linn's as she grabbed her glass, drinking from the exact spot where Linn had rested her lips. The faint trace of her lipstick was still visible. At that point, the musician was convinced she was in the presence of a truly skilled seductress, wondering if Wendy acted like this with everyone or if she was just the lucky one. Probably a lot of guys and girls craved the attention of the girl sitting next to her. Coincidentally, right at that moment, she noticed a young couple eyeing their table. They were probably deciding whether to hit on them or let it go. Wendy noticed too.
"Mh, I think they want to come over here," Wendy whispered, leaning in closer to the musician and resting a hand on her thigh. Linn took a large gulp of wine, trying to hide the embarrassment she was feeling.
"Should we do something to keep them away?"
"Like what?"
Wendy winked and leaned in even closer, pressing their bodies together. Then, without warning, she cupped the musician's face and kissed her. Linn froze, but soon enough, her body responded to the soft, warm sensation: Wendy nipped at her lip and licked it, asking for entrance to Linn's mouth, which she didn't hesitate to grant. Their tongues sought each other out immediately, and the two girls lost themselves in the pleasure sparked by the meeting of their mouths and bodies. They forgot the initial reason they were kissing, and Linn wished she were alone with Wendy, able to enjoy the moment away from the crowd and the noise. It was the first time she had felt so ignited by desire.
"You taste like strawberries."
Linn didn't even realize she had said it: she was mesmerized by those sweet, red lips. She wanted to reclaim that softness, but clarity soon returned, reminding her of where she was and the fact that she didn't know the girl in front of her at all. Maybe she had drunk too much... or maybe too little.
The musician pulled back, but Wendy wrapped her arms around her neck, forcing her to stay put. "Where are you going? Did you not like it?"
Only then did Linn notice the small mole under Wendy's right eye, finding the detail incredibly sexy; she had a feline gaze—sensual, piercing, intense... and she couldn't resist her.
"Yes, I liked it... but we're in public, and—"
"If that's the problem, I know a quieter place. Would you like to visit my apartment?"