Novie Fox

A Mini Concerto for Two

In D-Flat Major

Take a breath. Sink into the moment.

You see me making my way toward you from across the room. Headphones slipping off, a book peeking from my bag–I shrug off my coat and settle beside you. The air between us laced with creamy vetiver and powdery matcha. It’s warm and elusive, like memories waiting to be savored with your favorite spoon. 

You sip your drink, watching the evening unfold, unhurried. My fingers hover a second too long above yours. My gaze on your lips just enough to make you wonder. The space between us hums with its own quiet melody.

Your eyes drift to my bag, to the several tiny jam jars tucked inside.

“For bread opportunities,” I say, “I hope that’s not too off-pudding.”

And just like that, the music between us begins.

Do people even read ‘About Me’s anymore?

Maybe you skimmed. Maybe you’re actually reading. Either way, I’m glad you’re here.

I grew up near oceans. I’ve always been drawn to blue-black waters for the humbling and liberating feeling of being small in the face of something so immense. Life, like capillary waves, is full of strange, textural clashes. I stutter. My speech often comes out in ripples, a reflection of a mind that’s a bit divergent. I’m autistic, which means my navigation of the world is less like a roadmap and more like orbs of sporadic, sensory detours. It might seem awkward, but I prefer to think of it as my terrestrial sonar, a way of tuning into each person’s frequency and perspectives others might miss.

They’ve called me eclectic. My resume is a funhouse mirror: a concert pianist who traded perfection for presence, and an ex-Mormon who found the real miracle of life after losing religion. I consider myself a ‘sober romantic’, who understands what it costs to have good things, and I bring that mindful appreciation for life to everything I do.

Small talk is a foreign language I’m still learning, but I’ll happily get lost in a conversation that has no destination. This is something I do for my own pleasure outside of my day to day life. I’m endlessly curious about the human condition and believe there is something beautiful waiting to be created in the unscripted moments between two people.

My hobbies include DJing, adoring quiet strolls in nature, and spending weekends on an obsessive quest to master the dark art of sourdough starters.

I’m here for stimulating conversations to think about for weeks afterward, and for all the fun that comes with them. I hope you are too.