Frank

There's no particular reason for this recollection, other than the conversation I recently had with someone who's into Latin social dance, and this memory came up, a moment shared with a man I lost touch with now. His name was Francisco, one of the residents I worked with, a man on a mission, to charm the pants off of me. Full of himself and seemingly desperate for attention..my kinda guy, usually :), but with my marriage on the rocks, he just wasn't worth the trouble. No one was, yet. I remained miserable but allowed myself no affairs, it was just too much to contemplate a double life when I could barely deal with what I had..So, escapism as my motto, I'd try anything money could buy to forget that I married a bonified asshole. Extreme fitness, exotic spa treatments, A-list restaurants, clubs, drugs, booze, countless men around me..I didn't sleep with any and bought nothing I could keep, which I sorely regret now.. but my conscience was clear and my imagination wild, so I allowed myself little adventures..like going on a date with a gorgeous Colombian medic 10 years my junior who had a huge crush on me..He went through my locker at work and found my scribbles on belly dancing..lost sleep for a while and sent me mushy love letters. Me and my girlfriend laughed till hiccups.. And then there was Frank who'd beg me to go salsa dancing with him..Dancing was his thing, aside from practice, he spent all his time in clubs, which I thought sad and pathetic for a grown man..Until one night after an ugly fight with my one and only I stormed out and on a whim decided to actually go. He was there alright, with a bunch of other docs I knew. He saw me and jumped off the bar stool, smiling like a maniac. I though of leaving right away but it was too late, everyone else was greeting me..So I stayed and had a few drinks, I thought his stare will burn a hole through my top..And then came the dance. I don't know what it was, salsa, mambo, reggeton..I couldn't do any of it before OR after. The music grew louder, the rhythm, soft and relentless, gathered strength..Honestly, I had no idea how GOOD this was going to be. He was amazing, and he made me move in ways I didn't know I could..I tried to talk away the awkwardness.."Easy, Frank, I'm vulnerable..".."Don't worry, you're safe with me !".."Too bad..".."Do you wanna be safe with me ?..".."I..I don't know.."...but the awkwardness was long gone, we danced with such ease and passion, smiling, steady, looking into each others eyes..one would think we've been a couple forever. The closeness, the heat, the absolute perfection of our bodies yielding to each other ever so gently..In those five long minutes I fell for him, lived a lifetime as his woman, bore his children and died happy, holding his hand :) And then it was over. We actually got applause, and just stood there for a while, swaying slightly, as if drunk. And then the bastard spoke. I don't remember what he said but it was all wrong. Something about going home with him. The thrill was gone and I wanted him gone as well. Wasn't his fault, there was just absolutely nothing left for us after that dance, except, maybe, a cigarette :) But he didn't smoke. And I had to go home to make amends with my husband. And so we went on, feeling strange about each other for a while, but never shared a moment like that again.