Stuck There

It is nearing 10.

It had been a long day, last night's sleep hadn't been good.

And she hadn't come online.

He rubs his eyes and yawns.

Perhaps it's time to call it a night,

Or maybe wait just a little longer, just in case.

Then, on the corner of the screen, something changes.

There she is!

His fingers fly in a flurry to the keyboard

and pause.

The nightly uncertainties appear in his head -

Does she really want to talk to me?

Should I disrupt her once again?

Once again, he decides to continue.

It is worth every minute of it.

He loses himself in the conversation,

like a soul lost in paradise, all his cares

dropped away, and his worries left behind him.

Not a hint of emotion is betrayed in his careful words,

as he hides his heart, hoping it might one day be found,

yet not for a moment considering

that his eagerness may be his undoing.

They talk about things, times, trifles, and the clock quietly ticks by.

It is nearing 12.

He finally, reluctantly, said his goodbye.

But even as he shut his eyes, her face swam before him in his mind

and the sound of her laugh echoed around inside his head.

And he knew with a sense of delight and apprehension

that this night's sleep wouldn't be good.

Because she was there,

within his mind,

stuck there,

still.