An hour would be enough. An hour with my head on the pillow beside yours, foreheads touching, eyes locked with eyes {just the two of us, mind you, minus that sodding cat}; an hour to smell the smell of you - garlic and all, I wouldn't mind, no, I wouldn't mind. An hour to press you close the whole length of our bodies and feel the shudder of your laugh. An hour to tell you I'm so glad I knew you. An hour, just an hour. I have time now like hedgehogs have fleas: I can lose it, waste it, squander it, kill it, and there will still be more to follow, but that hour I'll never have. Never.
This quote exemplifies a profound yearning for intimacy and the fleeting nature of meaningful moments. The speaker yearns for just an hour—a brief, precious window—to share closeness with someone special. The vivid imagery of placing a head on the pillow, foreheads touching, and gazing into each other's eyes evokes intimacy, trust, and connection that transcend physical touch alone. The mention of the scent—garlic, perhaps a reminder of natural, everyday life—adds authenticity and comfort to the moment, emphasizing that love and connection are rooted in the simplicity of shared experiences. The desire to press close along the entire length of bodies and to feel the shudder of laughter captures the human need for closeness and joy. Declaring gratitude for knowing the other person introduces an appreciation for the bond formed, even if brief. The reflection on the passage of time—likening it to fleas on hedgehogs—conveys a sense of inevitability and regret that these moments are transient and can never truly be captured or relived. It encapsulates both the longing to hold onto moments and the acceptance of their impermanence. The tone is tender yet wistful, resonating with universal human experiences of love, loss, and the desire for permanence amid fragility.
