Anthony Macino

Is This Someone You Know?

Anthony had been voted by the readers of People magazine as the sexiest man in the world for five straight years. He was arrogant, cocky, and difficult to work with. His good looks had propelled him quickly into the world of modeling for clothing catalogs where he paraded around in his underwear and let women peek at his muscles.

Anthony tasted the love of many women but only Irene touched him deep within his soul in the place where the moon sought a home. He had met her deep in the woods of northern Wisconsin late one night as he was walking and dreaming.

Irene had appeared out of the mist and had placed a small kiss on his smooth cheek. He felt her arms engulf him and smother him with warm flesh. Her light green hair smelled of pine and her lips tasted like pine needles.

When Anthony reached for her, she shifted and his large smooth hands touched only the air. She could and would touch him, but he could not reciprocate. He could only wait in anticipation as her hands explored his body and aroused in him an excitement he had never known.

That night revealed the breath of heaven to Anthony and he remembered every detail down to the light green color of her toenails. He returned on a thousand nights to the same place but never saw, felt or smelled her again. He waited anxiously each night for her return. He ate very little and yet his body did not suffer. He lived on the power of love, but it cost him modeling jobs as well as fame and wealth.

Anthony searched everywhere for Irene and found himself unable to love another woman. He drew pictures of her that were exquisite and filled boxes and boxes with his drawings. When he described her to his friends, they shook their heads in puzzlement and confusion. He dreamed of her every night and would wake in a cold sweat, shaking.

One woman photographer, who saw the wild look in his eyes, took hundreds of photographs of him. For some strange reason that she could not explain, each photograph had a greenish tint about it. On a few nights, she trailed him into the woods and watched as he sat alone all night as if in a trance.

After years of living on the edge and waiting miserably for Irene’s return, Anthony discovered that his world had changed. He could no longer return to the world of men after his night in the woods. That world was too noisy and confusing. On his last visit people commented about his green appearance. When they would reach out to hug him or shake his hand, their hands would pass through him.

Anthony lived alone in the wood and ate nothing. When Irene finally returned and called his name, he reached out to touch her and her hand felt rough like the bark of a tree. She led him to a part of the woods dense with pine trees. She walked into a pine tree and led him into a magical realm that no man had ever entered. There he still lives and loves.

Copyright © 2020 by Harley King

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