It is human’s nature to yearn for the unnatural.
A voice lured him to unknown parts of the old city. His feet enchanted, his ears hooked to the bait of music. He forgot the parking bill and his tiredness and the uncomfortable tie around his neck, for in that moment pain was secondary. De Café um Bock greeted the lost traveller.
He wouldn’t have entered the bar. As a candidate to be the future Luxembourgish prime minister, it is not well seen strolling into hidden beer dispensaries, which in return is strange, considering the proud local drinking culture. He entered.
The smell of cigarettes and red wine and old wood decorated the tiny inside. Few drunks had already given up and the counter had become their dedicated sleeping spot. The barman gazed at the stranger.
A woman, gorgeous in her nature, played the rundown piano. Her skin was well-toned, her hair long and dark, and her blue dress resembled Puglia’ soft ocean waves. His gaze was robbed, her being was charm enough to embrace and squeeze his heart. As the door slammed back into place, he awakened from his slumber. The singer smiled at him with a certain notion of contend.
He sat down, wanted a Bofferding and got a Diekirch, and asked the barman: “Moien, sorry, could you tell me who she is?”
“Ani Sulem,” slurred the barman in reply. It was obvious, some of the alcohol has embraced the motherly care of his mouth. He pointed to the window. It said; Ani Sulem, Every Thursday Night, Music, followed by about ten red exclamation marks.
He took a sip from his beer, wiped the foam from his upper lip. Placed it back on the counter and heard how the seat near him scraped the wooden floor. The woman sat with equal grace besides him. His heart has grappled its way up his throat.
“How come a man like you, is in a place like this?” She questioned the stranger. Her legs were crossed.
He panicked. He loosened his tie, fumbled around his neck and mumbled: “Eh, to be honest…your voice,” he penetrated her eyes and gulped.
“Aren’t you cute, prime minister,” she grinned.
“Wait, you know me?” he asked, while his eyebrows tried to touch each other.
She started to laugh, her hand hiding her smile. “Mister Freud Gies, the population’s favourite,” she took a sip from her Crémant, “your face is plastered around the city, dear.” She winked.
Freud’s embarrassment was clearly visible. He took a sip anew, followed by a sturdy laughter and a long night.
-----
Saturdays were boring. They were strangely annoying. All he did was watch the news, respond to emails and sign some papers. He yearns. Repeatedly. Freud sighed, for the tenth time in less than twenty minutes.
He looked through the newspaper. Houses riddled the page, and as he went deeper the prices raised themselves. He underlined some with a blue pen, engraved with his name. Quite difficult to find a good one in the city. They were either too expensive, or run down, and even though he had not to worry about money, his education shines through.
He was annoyed, sad maybe and his patience also wore off. At first, he did not question it, he wanted to give her the privacy she needed. But at what point turns kindness into scepticism? Parents importance is undeniable, but every Saturday? He hasn’t even met them, and it has been what? Two years?
He played with the ring on his finger. She didn’t even show up for his inauguration. Granted, that was barely after that night, and she wasn’t ready yet to go public, could tarnish his career. Which it did not, who cares what the stupid papers say, or what she works as. For all he cares she could do what ever she wants, he would support her in every endeavour.
There was, however, one thing he wanted, and as his position tells, he was incredible in acquiring them; answers. He can’t do it anymore, plagued by demonic dreams and jealousy, he will confront her as soon as she returns.
He took the ring from his finger and put it on the table.
-----
Screams engulfed the condo. Good thing the neighbours were in vacation or else the grand duchy’s police would have some work at hand.
“I simply can’t tell you Freud,” her face was wet, not from rain or sweat, but from sadness. She knew deep down this is it.
“What god damn hidden secret you have that you can’t even tell your fiancée?” his response wasn’t loud, a bit aggressive maybe, but the obvious winner of the facial emotion fight was despair.
She lowered her head, her sight focused on the light green rug beneath her. She bought that rug. The condo was already comfortable, yet it was similar to a unused colouring palette. So, in a convincing stride (one without discussing it with Freud, of course) she impregnated the rooms with her colourful quirkiness. Freud wanted to be mad, but the smile on Ani’s face was remarkable. He would describe it as soothing almost.
“Freud,” she murmured, “there was once a man I really loved. He was more than a man, a leader, one that could build a city from the ground up.” She moved over to the L-formed couch and sat down. Freud followed and sat himself in front of her.
“He was quite like you,” she leaned over to the wooden coffee table and took a napkin, “and similar to you he asked for answers. However, I wasn’t ready to tell him.”
“So?”, asked Freud. Despair became concern, he put his hand on her thigh.
Ani cleaned her nose with the napkin and continued: “So, one Saturday he followed me, and saw my secret,” She looked Freud in the eyes, “the stare he gave me, was that of disgust. I was hurt, hurt like never before.” Her skin resembled a map with long rivers.
Her tone trembled, “I love you Freud, but I don’t want to lose you.”
A condescending laugh emerged from Freud’s mouth. He laughed, shook his head and couldn’t even look into Ani’s eyes.
“We’ve been together for two years, and that is how much trust we have built?” He stood up, showed his back to Ani and stroked the front of his face.
He turned around and looked at her, “Do you think so little of me? Do you really, absolutely think I would just give up on this because you have some little secret. Let me be the judge of that!” he exclaimed.
Ani was shocked. She stopped crying at once, and her body felt as if a car just had hit her. Confusion was reign. She became furious.
“You fucking asshole, why are you like this?” she grabbed his hand and both walked to the bathroom. Ani let water into the bathtub and undressed herself, still being obviously mad.
Freud did not want to, he was mad, anxious and confused, and yet the blood rose. He kept his clothes on, this became a complete fever dream.
Ani climbed into the bathtub and with ferocity said: “Watch, fucker.” Her legs glowed a bright blue and slowly changed shape, followed by her hands and her hair turned a light green, similar to the rug in the hallway. Freud was unreadable, his mouth and eyes began to grow, and his breath stumbled. Ani’s legs turned into an ocean blue fish tail and her hands had fins between the fingers.
She looked away from Freud, her gut instinct told her to not look at his face, she usually does not repeat her mistakes, but sometimes emotions take over.
Freud walked over to her, sat on the edge of the bathtub, analysed the creature up and down. He took Ani’s hand and said:
“Gorgeous.”
-----
Melusina found her Siegfreud.