Borrowed Light
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Falling in love means seeing yourself through other eyes. You are transformed into pretty or handsome, wise and talented and most of all; worthy of adoration. In nature, this is often called borrowed light; shining from another source. This Valentine’s day and for all the days after may you keep your love-light shining. ADL
From Alice Again
Chapter 12 Borrowed Light
“…. Should we have dinner?”
Dinner? Like out on a date? “I really can’t.” I stood to go.
Hoon helped me on with my new coat. A bare hint of his cologne awakened feelings I thought were long dead.
“Are you sure you have to go?” he asked as he threw away our cups.
I wasn’t sure of anything.
Third Avenue was enjoying a temporary lull between the start of First Watch and the 4 a.m. lunchtime. The sky had deepened to … night-red. In its center, the full moon made a silver circle above the skyscrapers like a punch hole on a paper valentine. Discarded fast food wrappers floated peacefully on the curbside puddles, reminders that a storm had just swept through.
“Let me pay your cab fare home,” Hoon said as he scanned Fifty Seventh Street for a taxi.
“But, I live in Queens,” I protested.
“No problem. We can walk to my garage. I’ll drive you back.”
His offer touched my heart. I brushed a swath of hair from his forehead. Hoon’s eyes explored my face slowly as if we weren’t parting. “Yeh pooh dah. You’re very pretty,” he said softly.
Of all the compliments I had lived long enough to hear, that one trumped them all. “I should get home,” I breathed out my words.
“When will I see you again?”
“I don’t know. I’m not in Midtown very often,” I told him. But I surely would be if I knew he was waiting.
“Alice, are you dumping me?” he asked. It was meant to be a joke but we both knew it wasn’t.
“I live very far away. I’m practically from…the moon.” I fell silent.
He tilted my chin towards the sky. “Standing here in the moonlight, I almost believe you.”
“I once read the moon produces no light. It borrows it from the sun.” My voice cracked as I spoke. Had that sounded corny? He’s so cool and I’m so not.
“Well, whether you borrowed it or own it, moonlight suits you, Alice.”
I lowered my head in embarrassment. When was the last time I was the center of attention? Was I ever?
Hoon folded his tall body till he could look up at my face. “You see, Alice-in-moonlight, you’re not so far away.”