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Blaine sat on a park bench, the crisp air of early autumn swirling around him. The leaves had transformed into a vibrant tapestry of reds, oranges, and yellows, some scattered along the pathway like nature’s confetti. He was waiting for the woman who had changed his existence. With one look at her, he had been enthralled, captivated by her very being.
“She always goes to City Park, to a bench off in a corner to read.” The old man told him. It’s not like he was stalking the woman or anything. He had come to the park bench for a few days waiting for his chance to see her and possibly talk to her. It was love at first sight, he was sure of that. Even though he felt that he was unable to be loved, he still wanted to talk to her. Just once was all he needed.
He was nervous, a new feeling for him. Being in a human body once again ignited something new in him. Sure guardians have emotions but they somehow felt so much stronger in this body. He took a few days to adjust and equip himself with basic human things. His aesthetic was rather dark. He chose dark clothing and accessorized with piercings. Needing something to calm his nerves he purchased cigarettes as the human at the store said they helped him. Blaine was unsure but gave it a try anyway. Making his way to the park to wait, deciding to light one of the cigarettes to see if it worked to calm his nerves. It didn’t.
“You know, those things will kill you someday.” he heard a woman giggle.
He softly chuckled as he said “Eh I’m already dead” but he trailed off as he turned to look at the woman who had sat down beside him. The woman he was looking for, Venus.
Her ocean-blue eyes met with his ruby-red. They stared into each other’s eyes for what seemed like an eternity, but it was only mere seconds before someone spoke up.
“Your eyes are so beautiful,” they both said at the same time. Venus giggled and he turned away whispering “sorry” under his breath.
“So, you don’t look like one to mosey around parks such as this. What brings you here?” he heard her ask.
He was suddenly extremely nervous so he took a big drag of his cigarette. “I came here to see someone.” He replied.
“Oh and were you able to see them?” She asked curiously, opening her book and getting ready to get lost in its pages.
“Yeah,” he said with a smile, looking over to the woman who was already lost in her book.
“If you’re going to stare at me you could at least tell me your name.” She giggled lightly, barely looking up from her book to meet his gaze.
He blushed slightly. “My name is Blaine. And yours?”
She smiled softly. “My name is Venus.”
A comfortable silence fell between the two as they just gazed at each other, losing themselves in the depths of each other’s presence.
Venus let out a little giggle. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Blaine.”
“Ah it’s nice to meet you too Miss Venus,” he replied with a slight dusting of pink on his cheeks. He glanced over trying to figure out how to keep the conversation going. He looked at her book and decided to give that a shot.
“So what’s that you’re reading?”
“Oh, this? It’s just a romance novel,” she said, smiling softly, a hint of sadness behind her eyes. She ran her hand softly over the cover as her eyes had a far-off look, like she was remembering something.
“My grandparents had a fairytale love story so I fell in love with the idea of romance at an early age. Their story was so beautiful from beginning to end. I want to write my own romance novel one day but I need to experience it myself before I can write about it. But I haven’t exactly had the best luck in the romance department. No one wants a shy bookworm with high expectations of love.”
Blaine sat there quietly listening to her, he didn’t realize his mouth was dropping till his cigarette fell to the ground. Once it hit the ground, they both snapped their gaze and locked eyes for a moment again. They both turned red and looked away.
“Oh my goodness. I went and started blabbering once again. I’m so sorry. You’re a stranger and you didn’t come to the park to hear a lonely bookworm go on about her lack of a love life. AH there I go again!” she said as she covered her mouth with her hand.
There was a moment of silence before she heard him say something unexpected.
“I don’t have to be…” he said, turning even more pink.
She turned back to him, “Pardon?”
He turned to face her once again, embarrassed but decided it was now or never. “I don’t have to be… A stranger that is…” he said, giving her a soft smile.
She looked at him in shock for a moment before giving him a soft smile. “You know? I think I’d very much like that.”
As Blaine and Venus sat on the park bench, a gentle breeze rustled the autumn leaves around them. The initial awkwardness began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of comfort and connection. Blaine, still adjusting to his new human form and emotions, found himself captivated by Venus’s presence.
“So, Blaine,” Venus began, her voice soft and curious, “what do you do?”
Blaine hesitated for a moment, unsure how to explain his true nature. “I… I help people transition,” he said carefully. “It’s a bit hard to explain, but it’s a job that requires a lot of empathy and understanding.”
Venus nodded, her eyes reflecting genuine interest. “That sounds like a very important job. It must be difficult at times.”
“It can be,” Blaine admitted, “but it’s also rewarding in its own way.”
Venus smiled, appreciating his honesty. “I think it’s wonderful that you help people in such a profound way.”
They continued to talk, sharing stories and learning more about each other. Blaine found himself opening up in ways he had never imagined, revealing parts of his past and his struggles with emotions. Venus listened with compassion, her gentle presence a balm to his weary heart.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the park, Venus closed her book and turned to Blaine. “Would you like to take a walk with me?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with a mix of hope and curiosity.
Blaine’s heart skipped a beat. “I’d love to,” he replied, standing up and offering her his hand, helping her up.
They walked along the winding paths of the park, the fallen leaves crunching beneath their feet. Blaine felt a sense of peace and contentment he had never known before. He was no longer just Death; he was Blaine, a man experiencing the beauty of life and the warmth of human connection.
As they strolled, Venus pointed out various spots in the park that held special memories for her. “This is where my grandparents used to bring me when I was little,” she said, gesturing to a large oak tree. “We’d have picnics here and spend hours just talking and laughing.”
Blaine smiled, imagining the scenes she described. “It sounds like you have a lot of wonderful memories here.”
“I do,” Venus said softly. “This park has always been a place of comfort for me.”
They continued their walk, eventually finding themselves back at the bench where they started. Venus sat down, and Blaine joined her, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him.
“Thank you for spending time with me today,” Venus said, her voice filled with sincerity. “I really enjoyed getting to know you.”
“The pleasure was mine,” Blaine replied, his heart swelling with gratitude. “I hope we can do this again sometime.”
Venus smiled, her eyes twinkling with warmth. “I’d like that very much.”
As the evening grew darker, they reluctantly said their goodbyes, each feeling a sense of anticipation for their next meeting. Blaine watched as Venus walked away, her figure gradually disappearing into the twilight. He knew that his journey was just beginning, and he was determined to see it through.
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