Blood Test

         You look down. You are straddling a log hanging out over the Trinity River.  You’re so high the roar of the river is muted. The view is spectacular.  Leon is behind you. Your name is Jane.  You are at the end of the log.  You think about the risk in turning around. Suddenly you are facing Leon. 

“Did you bring the device?” you ask. 

“I brought the device.” Leon replies.  [The device, known as a lancet, is a small spring-loaded needle designed to extract a drop of blood from a fingertip.] “Last week you wanted nothing to do with us becoming bloods.  You said it was creepy weird.” 

         “I’ve acclimated to creepy weird.  Lets do this thing.” 

         Leon cocks the lancet.  Hands it over.  Click.  A red blood balloon grows on the pad of your index finger.  Click.  Leon has one too.   You touch your bloody fingers together.  You drip blood onto a mat of white mycelium growing on the log. 

         You look down at the river; hypnotic, compelling, dangerous.

         You refocus on the blood splattered fungus and your bloody fingers, still touching.

         You look straight ahead and your eyes meet. You lean forward and incline your heads a bit to the right. You smile at one another for what you are about to do.  You Kiss, like it wasn’t the first time.  Easy as falling off a log.