Fire and desire

The beginning of a love story

FIRE
I got my nickname “Fire” as my mom said I came out the wound on fire and I’ve been unstoppable ever since.  At times, she will now say I took that nickname literally and is the reason I can’t keep a man.  She says I won’t let a man get too close to the flame.  I say I know what I want in life and refuse to settle for anything less.  It’s a good thing I have 4 older sisters and my mom was able to satisfy her want and need of grandchildren from them.  I’m 35 years old and I have a thriving career as a relationship counselor.  I know the irony of it all.  I have standards and I need a man to understand that I will not sacrifice my beliefs and morals just to be in a relationship.  I will continue to wait for my Boaz.

DESIRE
It’s Saturday night and I let my friends talk me into going out to the club.  I’m getting too old for this nonsense.  The women out here are either too young or too old do be twerking, but I’m here waiting on the moment I can dip out without looking like the old man who can’t hang.  I would rather be home reading a book and listening to Luther Vandross or Al Green.  “D why aren’t you on the dance floor?” My best friend Raymond ask as he is pulled off onto the floor by a beautiful chocolate sister.  Everyone calls me “D” because my mom had the crazy idea to name me “Desire” because she knew I would be everyone’s desire.  The joke is on her as I am still single at 39 years old.  I believe I’m a good-looking man at least that is what women tell me.  I’m the manager at our local hardware store and am financially stable.  For the women looking for a man with a big paycheck I am not your cup of tea.  I live a modest yet comfortable lifestyle.

FIRE AND DESIRE MEET
I’m sitting inside my home reading “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie when my light bulb blows.  Just my luck I have not one light bulb in the house.  The weather is raining cats and dogs, but I am so into this book I will have to face the thunderous sounds and crackling of lightening in the night sky.  I put on my rain coat and pull my dreads back into a ponytail as I prepare myself for I what I consider will be a beating of rain drops against my copper skin tone.  I decide to drive to the local hardware store which is 5 minutes away from my home.

I look outside the store window as it is a slow night. The sky roars as rain continues to hit the roof with pellets of rain drops.  It is nights like this that I wish I could just put the close sign up and go home to my warm and comfy bed.  As I continue to straighten up the products on the aisle, I see the beam from headlights and I think to myself what crazy person has left their dry home to face this relentless rain storm.

This may have not been the best decision but when you are into a good book not even a rain storm can get in between me and Ifemelu (the main character in my book).  I prepare myself to dash out of my car and into store while trying to get the least amount of beating as possible.  I run into the store, for a minute I thought my name was Flo Jo, with rain drops sloughing off my rain coat and making puddles on the store floor.

“Ma’am can I help you?”  I look at this gorgeous creature who is making my night a little longer as I will now have to clean the floor to prevent the next person from falling.  Never I have seen someone so naturally breathtaking even in the state of chaos as she attempts to gain her composure…
                                                                                                                         Written by Ayana Young
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