A Cupids Arrow

Hey, Mia.
Nora turned to me, her hair dishevelled and chest bare. Small droplets of sweat ran down
her clavicle as she sat up on the bed, making her pale skin shine even brighter under the dim
lights. Her hand fell softly on my head, tenderly caressing my hair, I hear that when a
couple who loves one another deeply is together, they each get heavier by exactly 900
grams.
Why is that? I asked, bringing myself up and sitting beside her. Her hand moved down my
head, to my cheeks, then my neck, then my breast, delicately tracing a line with her fingers.
That is the weight of a Cupids arrow, embedded in their hearts.
An arrow!? That might as well be a sword!
Nora flashed a playful smile, Thats just how weighty love is.
So, I said in a hushed tone, embarrassed by my thoughts, does that mean that we each
got 900 grams heavier?
Yeah, she whispered, edging closer for a kiss, we just might have.

Forty-eight point one exactly, read the scales.

I havent gotten any heavier
The last time I had weighted myself was shortly after I first met Nora, and even after these
five months I hadnt gained, or lost, any weight. I thought that maybe after what she told
me yesterday, I would have gained 900 grams for sure. Well, its not like the first reading is
always right, maybe I shouldMia, my older brother came in nonchalantly into the bathroom, towel in hand, are you
done already? I gotta get ready.

I hopped in the shower stall and drew the curtains, You jerk, dont you know how to knock!?
No Im not done!
Alright, alright, chill.
My idiot of a brother hadnt even bothered to close the door. After stepping out of the stall
and making sure to lock it, I emptied my lungs of all air and stood on the scales one more
time.
Forty-eight point one exactly, read the scales.

It wasnt hard to find her in the empty library. Books were sprawled all around; towers of
journals, research papers and anthologies, most opened, some closed, all littered with
bookmarks in all sorts of places. Amidst the towers of paper she sat, hunched over a
workbook and diligently scribbling away. Dusk approached and the setting sun shone holy
beams of amber upon her figure. Occasionally she would hook her hair behind her ear,
revealing the sides of her neck, and after writing a few pages worth of notes she would lean
back on the chair to stretch, lifting her arms and projecting her chest forwards.
She was so focused that I considered just turning away and returning home. I told myself
that it would be better if I let her be. But I was too reluctant to leave without a word, and
more importantly, too selfish to spend this night without her.
Hey Nora, happy birthday! I held out a folded scarf with both hands, wrapped by a small
red ribbon. She looked to me, with a grin that went from ear to ear.
So you came! I was starting to think you had forgotten.
As she made her way towards me, I could feel my face reddening and averted my eyes, I
know its not much, but I hope you like it
Nora grasped my hands together with the scarf and brought her face right in front of mine,
pushing me back ever so slightly until my back hit one of the bookshelves. So close we were
that I could feel her breath cradling my skin, I knit it myself over the past few days.

She tugged the scarf from my hands and let it drop on the floor, moving her hands to my
collar and unbuttoning my shirt.
Im sure you have an even better present for me, she murmured softly, moving her head
over my shoulders and kissing my neck.
Here? Someone is going to see us
She moved back, gently sliding my open shirt down my arms, Do you have a problem with
it?
For the first time today I looked straight into her eyes, Not really I mumbled, But what
about you, what will happen to your commendations?
Nora paused, her impish grin turning into a compassionate smile, Should we go to the
restroom then?
I averted my eyes from her once more, I would much rather be somewhere private I
mumbled so quietly that, for a moment, I thought she did not hear me.
Alright! she chirped, getting up and gathering the clutter of books on the table.
Dont worry Mia, well get another hotel room.

Forty-eight point one exactly, read the scales.

What the hell, Im still the same!
We had kept on going for hours yesterday. There was no way that after all the sorts of
things that we did I still wouldnt have that damn Cupids arrow. Yet here I stood, and the
scales didnt change.

Dont be shy, Nora beckoned me to enter, we got the house all to ourselves tonight.

No matter how many times I faced the door to her house, I could never avoid being struck
with tension. It was not like Nora and I had much spare money to spend, and recently it was
becoming increasingly harder for us to find the funding to rent a hotel room.
She ran up the stairs towards her bedroom, flaunting her trademark frisky smile, Ive got a
surprise for you; dont come up until I tell you to!
Whenever I came to visit, her parents would be around, but this time I could walk in without
having to pretend that I held her hand because we were good friends. In the past, entering
made me anxious, but tonight I was anxious to enter. Tonight, we would have the time and
space to do whatever our hearts desired.
Alright, come on up!
Her room was quite simple. Most of her walls were white, save for one which was painted in
coral pink. A wooden chest of drawers, with pictures of the time she went abroad lying on
top; a full-size bed with some animal plushies on the floor beside it a desk stacked with
textbooks and a poster of her favourite band. Save for the occasional days where a mess of
scattered books and clothing cluttered the floor, it was a well-kept place that provided
refuge to both of us from the world outside. Today was no different.
So, whats the surprise?
Nora took her pillow and flung it away, I thought its about time we tried something
different. Upon seeing what was on her bed, I could not keep my composure.
W-what! I stuttered, taking three or four attempts before getting the word out.
Yeah, she said, its not like all the other times. With this I would be taking your virginity.
To me, time had stopped. Though we had done much together, the revelation was enough
to shock me to a halt. I had never given virginity much thought, especially after my first
experiences with Nora, so her surprise caught me unprepared and led me to look away.
As long as you are fine with it, that is.
If its you Im happy. Though its the same for you right, I turned to look at her, That
means I would be-

Oh, about that, she went quiet for a while, showing me a sheepish grin, It wouldnt really
be my first time.
For a moment I could neither see nor hear; only feel the heavy thumping in my chest. Nora
never mentioned anything about a previous partner, much less about having experience.
She led me to the bed and sat me down, stroking my hair with one hand and holding my
chin with another. She always took the lead but it never occurred to me that it was because
she already knew what she was doing.
Dont you worry about anything; Ill take care of you.

Forty-seven point two exactly, read the scales.

What? Ive lost exactly 900 grams!? But she even took
With her commendations and grades, it was not difficult for Nora to get into her university
of choice. That spring was the last I saw of her. We met shortly after she got her results, in
the botanical gardens near the school. Sitting under a cherry blossom tree, I filled my lungs
with the pleasant, rustic smell of the blooming flowers as I waited for her to come. We
walked across the gardens over and over, stopping only when our legs tired. It was only
when the sun began to set, dying the sky in a persimmon tint, that we went our separate
ways. I cannot remember much of what we talked about, but I will never forget the crippling,
unexplained sorrow I carried with me that day.
Ill write to you every week! Nora exclaimed with enthusiasm, waving goodbye as she got
on the bus.
She never did.
Day after day I waited expectantly for her letters. She must be busy with moving, I thought
to myself. Settling in is difficult in the first few weeks, right? When will she send me her
address? I could always visit. At first I checked the mail every afternoon, then every two
days, then whenever I remembered, but the letters did not come.

Only months later did I understand; I had an arrow on my heart all along.
I heard from my brother who turned out to have a friend in the same university that
Nora had found a new lover shortly after arriving. As for the 900 grams I had lost, I gained it
right back with some Bolognese and a chocolate cake.