I can’t help it. I’m a lover boy. A romantic at heart. My obsessions sometimes get the better of me. But, oh, how beautiful she is right now. So peaceful. I can’t help but wonder what she’s dreaming about. Is it about me? Our interaction at the supermarket today? God, I hope so. I need her to see me. To feel my presence even in her unconscious state. I didn’t mean to stare at her. She was just so breathtaking. I’d never seen such a beautiful woman. It choked the words in my throat. And the way she looked at me, that quiet uncertainty in her face, it was like she wanted me to chase her. Maybe that’s why she left in such a hurry. I was smart, though. The strong, brooding type. I didn’t want to seem too eager. That’s why I kept my distance as I followed her out to her car, and why I stayed a few car-lengths back from her on the way to her neighborhood. I had to stop myself from dwelling for too long. I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. That’s what separates me from the other guys. I...
I work as a cinema usher. A man brings a different girl to the late show every Thursday, but he always leaves alone.
Until a week ago, I worked as an usher at a very old, massive movie theater. It was not one of those modern cinemas with reclining leather seats and a full dining menu. It was an aging, multi-level building with sticky carpets, flickering neon lights, and corridors that stretched on far too long. Because it was an independent theater, we played a lot of things the big chains ignored. We played old classics, independent films, and late at night, we played incredibly cheap, low-budget horror movies. The kind of movies filled with practical gore, disgusting practical effects, and terrible acting. We had one specific screen, the smallest one located at the very end of the longest hallway on the second floor, dedicated almost entirely to these types of movies. My job was simple. I stood by the ticket podium, directed people to their screens, and when a movie ended, I went in with a broom and a trash bag to sweep up the spilled popcorn and discarded cups. It was a boring job, but it was qui...