The Transaction

There is a greeting.  A bright, welcoming hello.

A question.

An answer...short, but with a beaming smile

Our eyes lock...and never leave

Another question.  I take my time... pretend to be thoughtful

Just to hold your gaze for another moment

I think of asking for a receipt

Just to keep you there

Separated by a counter

Connected in our minds

The words unsaid

Need never be spoken

Or perhaps

Each is waiting for the other

To say it first

To say I come here because of you

Or when I get here, my hope is you come in today

Or my break is in 15 minutes, care to stay?

Or come and take a walk with me

Card in hand

Your fingers touch mine

When the receipt is given

I wait

And watch

And smile as I leave

I live for the two or three times

This week

And next

When we'll make the transaction

An Ode to Abby

Two years ago you left ...

I never knew if you'd be back.

My heart sank, each time I was there and you were not

Yesterday, I saw you there

Waiting, ready

Your bright greeting and warm smile

The light in my heart turned on again

So today, I came back

And there you were

A new dance

Every single day

Warm smiles over coffee

Your eyes alight when meeting mine

Your auburn hair, now shorter and bolder

but the soft smile remains

A reason to wake up

To leave ... to stop in

An exchange of words and more and again

Abby

A light in my once-dark soul