Domenica, 07 Marzo, 2004 | Posted by Lionel Gerkin at 18:46

My name is Lionel Gerkin and I once loved a girl named Silvia Rose.

We first met on a rainy Monday morning. I was running for the train. there was confusion on the wet streets. A car backfired violently. The police horse, whose rider was trying to direct trafiic, reared in fright.

As it came down, its hooves struck me across the head. I was thrown against her and then fell flat on my face into a puddle that seemed deep enough to drown a horse. (Of course a horse would have been able to swin).

I have never been able to swim. And luckily Silvia saved me. She dived in after me. I was slowly dropping to the bottom of the puddle. The weight of my work bag slowly dragging me under. I couldn't let it go as I had an important presentation to make at work on that day.

I felt her hand grab the heavy corduroy jacket that I was wearing. I opened my eyes and a blurred figure in my watery world smiled back at me.

Just before I passed out, she pulled me out of that puddle and with the help of some bystanders was able to lift me to safety.

I never found out if she performed mouth to mouth resucitation. I never found out if our lips met on that day. All I know is that as everything faded to black, I saw her wings spread wide and she flew away, beyond the dark clouds, beyond the rain, beyond the reaches of mere mortals like me.

When I came to, I was surrounded by dancers. The music was blarring to a rhumba beat. The heat of the dance and the sweat of bodies flew wildly. The sun shone blindingly. Beautiful bodies swayed to the beat.

It was intoxicating. God, I thought, I must be in Rhumba Land.