JJ seemed normal.
He was sitting across from me at Tommaso's Famous Pizza. We had walked thru North Beach just as the fog was coming in. Behind us the Transamerica building rose, like an obelisk. (I hoped I'd never feel an earthquake.)
In his Honda sportscar, he had shown me San Francisco's secrets: the dragons wrapped around the Chinatown arch, the four story Forever 21, the view of the skyline from Sausalito...
It was nice, I decided, - being friends with a man who lived 3,000 miles away. I told him my feelings for my sweet ex-boyfriend.
He took my picture with his camera phone, then motioned closer to snap us both.
Post-flash, I saw mirror multiples on his camera; I blinked and looked again.
My eyes did not deceive me. There were dozens of pictures of me - sipping coffee, laughing aloud, gazing at the city street; I was even his screen saver.
The room started spinning. Pushing back my chair, I stood up and dodged his arm. I shoved open the restaurant door (frightening the homeless Chinese woman) and felt my way back to my hotel room. The door bolted shut with certainty.
Later - this text:
The past two days spending time with you was an amazing experience. I hope you feel the same. I enjoyed discussions about the best part of a pizza; the city lights bookstore was real treat, we made a future trip plan to Tibet together....
I adored you the moment you walked into the dining room at Graycliff hotel. Keep smiling. I want you to be happy! Hope it works out for you and the ex-boyfriend. But, I'll be waiting for you if it doesn't and when you're ready to give a man a chance!
JJ
The pizza I ate came right back up - again and again and again.
