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“So am I.”
“Okay then, tell me. Why do you regret not developing superpowers?”
“It’s because if I had them, I would feel required to help people.”
Merri looked at me, confused.
“You don’t need superpowers to help people. You could just help them.”
“That’s easier said than done. I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m wound pretty tight.”
“You don’t say!” he said sarcastically.
“No, it’s true. I know I hide it pretty well, but I am.”
“I never would have guessed.”
“Anyway, I don’t love how tightly I’m wound. I look at other people, and I see how easily they can fit in or have a good time.” I paused. “I wish I were more like that,” I said, feeling the weight of my words.
When my gaze dipped, Merri put his hand on my leg. It surprised me. Looking up into his eyes, his empathy cracked the seal around my heart. Quickly gathering myself, I continued.
“All I was saying was that if I had developed superpowers, then I could take on a heroic persona who could help people. He could do the things I’ve always wanted to do but I have a hard time doing.”
Merri rubbed my leg.
“I’ll drink to that,” he said with a smile.
He clinked my cup, and we both drank. My gulp was enough to finish what I had. Merri gave me a refill.
“So, what about you?” I asked him. “What’s your biggest regret?”
Merri thought for a moment.
“My regret is that, in all the time we’ve known each other, I’ve not become more like you,” he said vulnerably.
“You don’t want to be like me,” I quickly said.
“Yeah, who would want to be disciplined and someone who demands respect every time they enter a room?”
Softly I told him, “It’s not everything it’s cracked up to be.”
Merri, who had moved his hand to get closer to me, said, “It is from where I’m sitting.”
Staring into his eyes, I lost my breath. With my heart thumping and our lips moving closer, there was an explosion. I pulled away and looked up. There were fireworks, literal explosions in the sky.
“What’s going on?” I asked Merri.
He smiled. “I wondered if you knew.”
“Knew what?”
“It’s the Fourth of July.”
“Oh!” I replied, looking up.
Lying back and getting comfortable, Merri joined me. Crawling into my arms and resting his head on my chest, we watched together. Pulling him to me, I felt his warm body on mine. I didn’t want this moment to end.
The explosions seemed to last forever, and when the fireworks stopped, Merri crawled up my chest and kissed me. Kissing him back, I parted his lips in search of his tongue. Finding it, our tongues danced.
