26

I’ve been watching the spark in Max’s eyes every time we’ve talked this week. Whether it has been about missing journalists, birthdays, or high gain noise filters it hasn’t mattered. She always has something smart to say, baiting me, pulling me along. The genetically enhanced killing machine and the high ideal lefty humanist have an interesting game going. She loves our little competitions and so do I.

Behind that street slang "no big dealio" façade of hers is a brilliant woman. She is an intellectual sponge that absorbs everything I share with her. Needless to say she slaughters me at chess. I usually have no clue what she is doing until I am dead. But, for once tonight I won at our little game. She may have excelled at telecommunications as a child but I excel at it as an adult. We mere mortals know a few things as well. She was so ‘gracious’ though when I corrected her, flashing me another enigmatic smile.

It reminds me of when we first met, of the cautious teasing chemistry that was between us. She accused me of being bent all those months ago. I had invaded her place and she no longer felt ‘safe’ there. So I casually invited her to stay with me. How bent was that? But the sparks were flying and this bent guy just went for it. I also remember the look in her eyes that night when I told her how beautiful she was. For a moment there was much more in her eyes than just a little spark.

Then everything changed. I lost that spark for a long time and I thought I would never regain it. But for some reason it is back in Max’s eyes and in her voice, teasing, flirting. Now that it’s there I can’t help but reciprocate. I’m not fooling myself into thinking that this is something more than it is. A couple of comments don’t a relationship make. But, when we play our little games, when she gives me a challenging look, when she flirts with me, it makes me feel human. I can appreciate that. Now that it’s started I can keep the ball going.

"Pick a birthday." I told her yesterday. "You gotta seize any opportunity you can to celebrate …" preferably with me, I thought shooting a smile at her. She smiled back, never one to give up an opportunity to celebrate.

The spark is back…

I would consider that cause for celebration. In this short brutal life you gotta seize any opportunity you can to celebrate.