A Certain Romance.

6 a.m.
The alarm rang.
He got out
from under his white blanket, sat up in bed, shut the alarm off.
He knew
today would be different. It felt different. He was smiling, he didn't know why.
Different.

He got out of the shower. Put on
his favourite cologne, favourite checked shirt, the classic pair of blue jeans he always wore,
his favourite pair of classic Reeboks, over the pair of Converse he normally wore,
and a smile.
Today was different.

He locked his door, stepped out
onto the road, into the sun, into Hope.
And he walked,
a crazy jingle playing across the street,
a smile on his face,
a twinkle in his eye, and he walked,
tossing a cent into the steel bowl
of that beggar playing the guitar around the corner,
an added cling to the jingle,
and a casual wave at old man John.
And he walked
towards his favourite coffee shop.

The bell rang as he opened the door,
and heads turned
as they
felt his happiness too.
Something different
about him today.
A cup, a tissue, a tip, and a smile
exchanged.
And the bell rang once more
as the door clicked shut behind him.

And he walked again,
as he took occasional sips from his cup,
walking in rythm
to the jingle still loud.
The sun was brighter,
and warmer
and happier
than usual.

And then she came,
from the other side,
the sun in her eyes,
the air in her hair,
her hair on her face as she tucked it behind her ear,
the breeze in her walk.
And his whole world lit up,
as he passed her by,
the momentary gaze,
the locking of the eyes,
the skipping of a beat,
that moment of recognition,
a connection unexplained,
and the never-breaking stare,
as she smiled to his smile.
A moment so still,
of eternity.

Today was different,
he remembered,
tearing away his gaze,
as he kept walking his way,
and she hers,
a knot building in his chest,
and butterflies in his stomach.
And even without turning,
he felt her wave at old man John,
and softly throw the penny into the beggar's bowl,
and he felt her happiness,
and he felt himself smile,
in a warmth that drowned his entire being.
And he hoped,
if even for a second,
she felt the same way too.

And it was,
a certain romance.