For some reason - the excitement of seeing the sun after the bout of last week's storm, the freedom of a day with no responsibilities, the strength of realizing that despite all of my recent self-doubt I do indeed hold the reigns to my own life - I was reminded today of one of the most exhilarating, blood-rushing, knee-weakening moments of my life: my BKE (best kiss ever).

I won't disclose his name (although it is probably one of the best names to have entered my life to date), but he was a friend of my roommate back when I lived in Williamsburg in '05. He and his band stayed in our apartment a couple times when they played shows in New York - the first time I only spoke to him once, briefly. It was July and I was still working my first job then, deeply hating it and feeling very lost; one night I sat out on the fire escape smoking and he stepped out to join me. I was a bit shy and intimidated (he stood at 6'4", wore eyeliner and had long, dark, emo rock star hair) but we had a surprisingly candid conversation - one that clearly struck me enough to resonate through the months that passed before the band came through again.

This time it was September. I'd quit my job three months prior and was now working part-time at the GAP, generally peaceful and much happier. He showed up with his hair cut short, eyeliner intact. and a shy smile as he poked his head into my room to say hello. During the band's week-long stay, we proceeded to spend almost every night deep in conversation, sometimes stretching the night into dawn before parting ways to go to bed. I knew that there was a connection there - but I didn't know how to navigate it and wasn't sure if it was a path I even wanted to take.

One night, we kissed - but he was unsure, still dealing with residuals from someone else. Not wanting to press, I let it be. We continued our nightly talks, though, and one thing he said to me as we crouched on my roof, a light summer rain sprinkling down on us, has always stuck in my mind: "You are one of the most wonderful people I have ever met." I believed it then and through all of the ensuing cynicism that I have since built up, a part of me still firmly believes it now.

The night before he left, we found ourselves back out on the fire escape. As it grew later, I told him I needed to sleep - we bid our goodbyes, my hands clasped in his, and I turned to go inside.

I had taken two steps when he pulled me back by the hand, drew me in close, and kissed me. It was the most surreal feeling, like it was out of a movie - I was on my tiptoes, hand still caught in his hand, knees nearly buckling from the whirlwind that had just taken place... and in that moment I felt inexplicably safe, that he was someone who could never hurt me. His lips were gentle but hungry, and the impulse with which he had pulled me away from the door lingered in the way he leaned down and wrapped his arms around me, lifting me off my feet. To this day I don't know what ran through his mind in the seconds as I turned away from him - I suppose I'm okay with that.

I saw him twice after that, about a month later in New York and then in Philadelphia. He was back together with the girl who had held him back that first night with me, and our meetings were brief, ostensibly innocent. Shortly afterward we fell out of touch; it's probably been over a year since we've talked, but those precious minutes that night in September '05 will always bring that rush back to me - the quintessential, appropriately romantic moment that would fit nowhere else in time but where it fell.

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And now I want to hear yours. If you'd rather not post it up here, email it to me - I would really love to read it.

comments

oh karel - my best kiss ever was you :)

if only i could ... remember it... damn tequila!

Molly | March 20, 2007 10:04 AM

go look here...
http://www.everybodyloveskiss.com/

this one is my fav
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20191805@N00/172740861/

tatiana | March 20, 2007 11:05 PM

I MISS YOU TOO. Been thinking about you every day. Having a school-related nervous breakdown. This Saturday kicks off my 9 day Spring Break! Can't wait. Will try to track you down.

Love, love, LOVE,
Lisa

bippy | March 22, 2007 2:04 AM

ok - here's m y real story. my best kiss ever was definitely with scott - not only because it really was the best kiss ever, but it was be even further and away the best FIRST kiss i've ever had. usually those are awkward, ill timed and something you have to get over later. not this. scott and i had been friends for a year and a half. i had just gotten back from school after my freshman year - we had spent three straight days hanging out and TALKING. like until five in the morning talking. like hearing the birds chirp and watching the sunrise talking. and that day at work - his brother approached me at work telling me that "perhaps" his brother might have feelings for me. so that night, i had no trouble climbing in scott's lap whilst we watched "the ring" on my couch. as the credits rolled by, i turned around and with the most confidence i've ever felt in my life, i kissed him. he will tell you that he kissed me, but ... i can tell no lies my friend. it was comfortable, warm, sexy, smooth, beautiful and filled with emotion. can't get it out of my head EVER.

Molly | March 22, 2007 8:54 PM

I think I saw my best kiss guy drive past me today... I nearly jumped the curb as I twisted around trying to get a better look.

RhiRhi | March 23, 2007 5:11 PM