Date
The video opened in disorientation. Hands that held the device shook as the film focused in on the torso of a man and a woman. Julianna and Owen. It became clear that the shaking of the video was in rhythm with foot steps. The more audible steps were the even clip clip clip of a woman's heel. His were off rhythm and more dulled sounding. The couple bundled up against the cold walked down a dark and damp city sidewalk. Breath like white ghosts billowed from their lips. The length of Julianna’s arm clothed in a light wool coat extended out in front of her.
The couple walked slow together. Gaits were mismatched somewhat due to his limp and reliance on a cane. They almost seemed to be re-learning how to walk side-by-side. She seemed capable of a much brisker pace but held back turning slightly towards him. Her patience accommodating the pace he set. With her free hand, Julianna adjusted the scarf draped around her neck that had been blown over her shoulder by a gust of cool air. She moved closer to Owen, cautiously hooking her arm through his free one. She pulled hand which had been tucked away into the pocket of his longer black wool coat out and let her fingers slide through his. She pressed her face to his arm as if to draw warmth from him.
Though her touch was tender and patient, there was a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
“Owennn.” She seemed to taunt the taller man. She drew out the last consonant of his name enticing him to look at her. She gazed at him from the tops of her eyes through darkened lashes flashing a toothy smile.
He knew that look and he stared straight ahead. Steely stare. Firm jaw. There may have been the shadow of a smile that teased at the corner of his lips. He glanced momentarily at the camera - no more than the slightest of looks like a light flickering before going out - and returned his eyes straight ahead.
“It's a videooo.” He mimicked her style of speech drawing out the ‘o’ as she had the ‘n’ of his name.
There was a gentle familiarity in his mockery. They had done this before. Many times. This routine had become a strange term of endearment. One of those idiosyncrasies that were born of long-standing relationships. A game they played - she - played with him. Asking for a selfie but taking a video instead while he was left figuring it out.
She continued to crowd the taller man, forcing him to occupy the camera view with her.
“I’m just documenting our night.” She chimed cheerfully. She gazed at the camera as if to suggest to her invisible audience that they were in on whatever joke or amusement she gleaned from teasing her husband. Her ears twitched atop her head.
“Is that so.” He muttered the words seeming not to believe her.
She tried to stifle a jingling sort of giggle against the back of her hand and reported to the camera. “My grumpy husband is taking me on a date tonight. Where are we going?”
Owen also addressed the camera. “She will see soon enough. When we get there.”
A fit of giggling erupted from Julianna. “I took a screenshot of you during that. So now it's a...it's a... a...video turned into a selfie.” The sentence could hardly be spoken around fits of gasping giggles. Tears threatened to spring to her eyes. She hid her mouth against his arm, staring gleefully out of the corner of her eyes at the camera.
The palm of his hand covered the camera lens. “Oh my god.” He growled to an accompaniment of Julianna’s chorus of giggles before the video went black.
❧❧❧
“Owen where are we?”
The video opened again to the sounds of Julianna’s voice pitching higher in amusement. The video panned from the ground up the length of Owen’s body. He leaned on a cane, staring upwards in confusion. His free hand gestured outwards and slapped against his thigh in frustration.
“Where are we Owen?” She repeated her question, switching up the phrasing.
The camera panned to show a boarded up business front.
“What is this mystery place?” The camera shook with Julianna’s mirth. She snickered quietly seeming to enjoy her husband’s confusion. The camera panned back to him and zoomed in on his face. The relationship of couple less familiar with one another likely could not stand this kind of teasing. His plans were dashed. It was funny - to her - because he was ever so confident in himself, in directions, in all things. Her mockery of him in this trivial moment was a privilege earned over years of growing comfort with one another.
He frowned. Lips pulled downward somewhat over his cleft chin. “Well fuck.” The frown disappeared. This time more than a hint of a smile teased his lips at the edges. He knew he was the butt of the joke. And he didn’t mind.
“So where are you taking me?” Julianna repeated the question asked in the earlier video.
“Just -- go that way.” He signaled waving his hand at her before moving to approach the camera.
❧❧❧
The video reopened again to the wet city sidewalk. It faced outwards as they walked.
“I think it’s only a couple more blocks east of us.” Owen’s voice came through the sounds of heels on concrete and a car passing by.
“Look at that.” Julianna’s arm and her finger pointing off screen appeared in view. She turned the camera and focused in on a large mural painted in an alleyway. A realistic image of a man in black seeming to peel away the brick siding of the wall revealing what appeared to be hell in technicolor beneath what he pulled back. Multicolored demons tortured people spilling blood and gore in rainbow colors.
The camera panned to Owen leaning on his cane, head cocked staring thoughtfully at the art.
“What do you think it means?” She asked as he turned his head towards her.
Owen shrugged, glancing back at the impressive graffiti. He scratched at the back of his neck as he considered. “My guess would be it's a commentary on the subconscious maybe. Battling with the demons deep inside can be beautiful? Better than walling them off with ugly brick and mortar?” He glanced back at her and shrugged dismissively seeming to say your guess is as good as mine.
She hummed contemplatively behind the camera as he moved to walk back towards the exit of the alley. He hitched and caught himself on the wall gasping in pain before grabbing the thigh of his obviously weaker leg.
The frame of the camera was forgotten as Julianna rushed towards him. “Are you alright?” She asked voice pitching towards concern as the camera captured the ground and part of her stylish heeled boot.
“Yeah I -” he breathed. “I think - I need to sit down a minute.” There was a reluctant resignation in his voice as his will was bent by the needs of his body.
“There’s a bench over there.” She chimed helpfully before the video went black again.
❧❧❧
When the video opened up again it focused in on Owen and Julianna sitting on a bench. Her arm curled through his with her cheek pressed to him. He sighed heavily.
“Should we go home? I’m not -” He didn’t finish and looked away suddenly aware of the camera.
Her hand lifted to touch his jaw and pull his face back towards her.
“I’m sorry, love.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders bringing her against his side. She snuggled close.
“Sorry for what?” She lifted her face from where it rested against his chest.
“This has been a bust.”
“No. Not at all.” She whispered affectionately and pressed her mouth against his cheek. “I just like being with you. Even walking around downtown at night.”
His mouth curled in a self-conscious smile.
“This is the first time we’ve been out since -” she continued.
“My accident, I know.” He finished for her, his hand lifted to push at a lock of hair that had blown into her face with a breath of winter’s breeze.
“We can get some snacks and go home and watch a movie?” She suggested, her voice becoming more chipper at the prospect.
“You gonna stay awake?” He asked flatly.
“Of course.”
Owen scoffed. He didn’t believe her. But he kissed her anyways and the video went to black.
❧❧❧
The video opened one last time to Owen’s face. “Look at this.” He whispered and panned the camera downwards to show Julianna tucked against his chest fast asleep. An ear twitched. Her fingers weakly gripped his t-shirt.
It was back on his face. “Look at this disgrace.”
The camera view flipped to show a laptop propped up on his stomach. A movie was paused and he zoomed in on the time 14:58:38.
The camera flipped back to Owen and panned to Julianna’s sleeping face before returning to him.
He tsked and shook his head. “A disgrace. Can’t even make it fifteen minutes into anything before falling asleep.” He pursed his lips and shook his head as if disappointed. The glint in his eye and slight curl to his lip suggested otherwise. And the video went black.
Bitch, I'm limited edition.
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