It was a VERY strong wind that day, and I absolutely swear to god that none of it was my fault. Seriously, guys. It was the WIND that knocked my umbrella into that dork's face. And his coffee fell too, rolling away. I explicitly articulated my most SINCEREST apologies and how I was just as much publicly humiliated as him.
"What is wrong with you-- I'm Gabe by the way--," he took my gloved hand to shake before returning to his nuclear meltdown. "--And what is wrong with you, coming out of nowhere, a ninja slash cat monkey assaulting my vulnerability, battering me to a pulp, leaving me struggling within in an inch of my life. I have asthma, you brute. Precious people like me die from wheezing. How dare you."
"I am MIRANDA," I shrug at Gabe. "Guess I am TOO MUCH of a woman for you."1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtckdNL8boT
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QP9jOjCOp
With the last word, I STRUT away. A minute later, it grew apparent he won't let that happen. He ran to my side, stammering and BLUBBERING like a fool.1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZeOyQFaqP
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxbq9ZVJUl
"Now, just wait a gosh-darned second here!" Gabe raised a finger. I kept a straight face when inside I just wanted to LOL. "You still owe me coffee-- and for mangling my face-- who knows if I ever see you again."1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QVVH9jnfX
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYMJTQeWqe
"I did not MANGLE your face! The wind did! Your face is not mangled, your face is perfectly FINE!" I huffed, realizing we stood outside the cafe. "I am being blackmailed and entrapped. I am not okay with it!"1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5raFJXSsvL
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4EgrRCxfk
The clouds roared back, and rain shattered. I fought with the umbrella.1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFyIvHqeqK
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyEoVeq5UO
"So it's a date!" Gabe shouted over the hysteria. 1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNPXyXROvV
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5a39jtuXb
"NO. GOODBYE FOREVER." I stormed off into the storm, wrestling with the umbrella and the wind. It took until the stoplight when Gabe ran up at the moment the wind grew VERY strong again. I swear to god, it was NOT ME the first time and it was STILL not me the second time. SMACK.1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteaeP8bShs
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUL1b8CpYG
The umbrella slapped Gabe ... again. I SHRIEKED in horror.1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YCQgs2cdp
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MY75yJH2r
"What is wrong with you-- ," Gabe said as the pedestrian sign lit up and chased me across the splashing street. "-- I think I'm bleeding! Am I bleeding? My poor mangled face. You may rob me of my coffee and my dignity but you can't get rid of me that easy, infernal murderess. A menace to society, I say! We are all in danger!"
"Then stay FAR away from me!" 1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE7fWMSnBA
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Hf0CtbXwq
Gabe took my gloved hand, and at that moment our hair rose. White lightning struck -- shocking us both. We keeled over, tased and jolted in waves until it was over. We glanced at each other with fresh and cooked eyes. Smoke steamed from our bodies. Boots were knocked from our feet. We marveled that we were electrocuted and somehow miraculously survived. I nodded, "Okay... Coffee sounds good right now..."1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8yRO9IdWa
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHToVbLISI
"So it's a date, Miranda," Gabe said, pleased. "That is spectacular."1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23wMTTQyUU
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADGjNVCdBW
"It is NOT a date," I insisted. "This is strictly normal and boring. People get hit by lightning all the time, Gabe."1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEKW9vpBa7
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PAfBRKGno
"And you're buying!" He pointed an accusing finger.1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZF2DDm6Dh
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL7TGDa7f1
"No, if anything it is YOU who are buying," I bickered. 1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlBXLwWprI
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pGyU8FMnI
"If I'm buying, ergo it's a date."1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cJzdmA9r0
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0pIz62M4w
"NOPE. WRONG. Regardless of someone buying, it is NOT--"1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Rv9QnjFqM
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuBUUl1KgU
We got struck by white lightning twice and wound up in the hospital, in the same room, with a curtain drawn between us. We spent hours staring at the ceiling arguing whose fault it was and how awful the coffee were here.1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3HX4KaH5v
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4TvPODkyx
Then his voice stopped. I looked at the curtain, hearing a droning flatline. I tore the curtain back. He was off the machine, leaning in for a kiss.1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPedemkONxi
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFOiioXYLW
"Kiss me?" 1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPyICxGnwk
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nMLBbRMaK
It was so OBVIOUS he was going to be my husband.1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkFjlP4K8m
So OBVIOUS he was going to be the father of my child.1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UgkyEPzB1
Gabe. That sweet dork. How can I not love him? 1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAozKBa4kZ
1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiJrG0N9QU
"No, you kiss me," I said. His eyes closed, as if to melt.
In our hospital gowns, we locked lips. And the rest?1139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJpUZdPxfS
The rest was, as they say, a WEIRD love story.
