In Knowing Others

"Why are you looking like that?" he asked, handing over a cup of tea.
I reached for it. Smiled my gratitude and took a sip.
Then sighed my pleasure, warmed by the tea.
"Look like what?" I asked, remembering his question.
"Pensive," he said. "It makes me wonder," he looked at me curiously. “What goes on inside you when you gaze out the window with a pensive expression on your face."
i laughed.
"You always wonder about me," i reminded him gently.
I t was his turn to sigh.
"You fascinate me..." he murmured.” I don't know --"
My face must have turned brick red for I felt the rush of blood through it. I laughed to hide my discomfort.
"You found me fascinating?' I asked incredulously. Me? Fascinating? Not on this lifetime.
"Okay, he said impatiently.” Maybe I am curious about you," he said sounding a little annoyed.
"Hmm," I murmured thoughtfully. "Curious? About what?" I asked hesitantly.
"About everything,” he said in admission. "Just when I thought I got you all figured out.." his voice drifted." Then it turns out that I don't know you at all."
"What do you hope to achieve in knowing me -- " I asked bluntly.
"I just thought that maybe it is easier to understand you when I know you...” he admitted.
"You can never KNOW a person, you know -” I said.
He raised his brow.
"You must accept that man is so complex by nature that to know one is almost impossible..." I explained. "You can predict...guess...about him but..." I drifted to silence.” It is not what is seen or heard, but what is hidden that tells man's truest story..."
He just continued to look at me in silence, a thoughtful expression on his face.
I covered his hand with my own and in a small voice admitted to him.
"How can you possibly understand me, when even I don't understand myself sometimes..."
Cy09.15.05