The following is based on an exercise in English 404, Creative Nonfiction, to write a 100-word essay. This is a true story.
Photo courtesy of Sumire Gant
Those dark red lips, cocoa brown skin, high cheekbones, cropped wavy black hair. Your smile, like a lighthouse radiating a beacon, assuring me I was safe in your peace. You extended those long arms, and I held your soft, thin fingers, afraid I would break them.
Instead, I felt strength. Not a threatening one that comes from a bad place. No, this strength was chill, cool, and wise.
You came out of nowhere, an apparition, beautiful, peaceful, glowing: those dark red lips, cocoa brown skin, high cheekbones, cropped wavy black hair.
I was ready for you and didn’t know it.
Antonio Ruiz is an ex-junkie-alcoholic, former seminarian, one-time radio host-producer, past community organizer, continuing to be a media advocate, retired television reporter, ex-commission executive director, once a street vendor of jewelry and gloves, waitron (waiter to you), a former bartender who drank too much on the job, an ex-motorcycle courier who learned to ride a bike just for the job, ex-airport shuttle driver, former Entertainment news director-producer, the best time of my life, one-time live TV events red carpet producer-executive producer, ex-small business consultant, ex-youth media and journalism mentor, and now a college student who also has been married three times (thirds the charm), and just couldn't help living with two other women because well, that's part of my story.
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On Second Thought 