Chance Encounter

“Late one afternoon

On my way home from work

I stopped by the dry cleaners

To pick up a jacket and shirt

And on my way out I remembered
I needed some eggs and milk

So I walked over to the mart

And saw the one who made my heart wilt

She caught my eyes in a glimmer

And looked away unnoticing

Then memory crept in

And her eyes started refocusing

For a moment time slowed

As fluid in her eyes began showing

Memories of a past life

And love long lost were emoting

I managed a “Hello love”

Through an unsteady, cracking voice

And despite my hesitance

A “Hi there” was her response of choice

“I couldn’t believe

After all these years
Of all the places

That I’d run into you here.”
She responded politely

That she was visiting family

Happy to see me

And wondered if Life had been good to me?

“Well, I graduated school
And ran straight for NYC
Without any money saved
I missed out on celebrity
But I returned to Jersey
Settled in on education

Teaching while still writing

Awaiting my motivation

To pen the perfect masterpiece
A pinnacle to all of my creations

Unfortunately I’d ran ashore

And was in need of inspiration”

I asked how she had been

She replied she was doing fine
Asked about her love life
Her response was merely a sigh

She uttered not a syllable

Yet, her face remained endearing
She offered a similar inquisition
A silent replica of my query

“There have been a few
Casual acquaintances

Nothing very special

Usually high-maintenance”
I didn’t say I stopped looking
Just that I didn’t have the time

Or that no one could compare
I’m sure that she knew why

We started down an old path
And began revisiting the past
How strong we thought our love was
And swore it would always last

Then she began to weep
As she reached inside her purse
I thought perhaps for a tissue
What she revealed made it worse

In the palm of her hand
A symbol of every empty promise
A tiny silver ring
A reminder of all that was dishonest

I told her that I was sorry
That with time I had changed

A sardonic smile response,
“Good, but you’re a little too late”

And that reminded me of a lyric

Of a musician we both revered

And in daydream I began humming

A song of ours that moved her to tears

“Cause all I wanna be

Is the minute that you hold me in
When you pretend that
I’m all that you waited for
Then time slips to nothing
And I’m better than I’ve ever been
I’m suspended…”
She begged me please to stop
And I awoke to find her wincing

Caressing her chin upward
Her brown eyes seemed fairly convincing

That what was once something special
A love so pure and unique
Was nothing more than a memory
A falling star now obsolete

And as I was going to ask her
A curious man began to approach
And before he muttered a word
I knew who he was before he spoke
“There you are honey
I must have lost you in aisle eight
We really must be going
Dinner’s soon and we’re running late”
Fighting tears she gave a look
And tried desperately to introduce

My hope now fully faded,
“Thanks a lot for the tip…I’ll try to put it to use”
I turned and walked away
As if nothing more than a stranger
Thought of all those broken promises
And how much that must have changed her

After dinner that night
I received a call
I repeatedly said “Hello?”
But there was no response at all
Somehow amidst the silence
I suddenly heard her speak
There wasn’t an audible word
I simply sensed that it was she
So I remained on the line
And waited ever so patiently
Reliving every moment
Held between her and me
I could feel her touching my face
Caressing my shoulders like she used to
I could sense the warmth of her breath
Wishing I could hold her the way I used to
Then right as I was about to confess
That I loved her and I’d never move on
I heard a sigh and then a click
And once again she was gone.” -E.Ricci, January 12, 2008 …back when it all mattered.