Lollipop and promises

t

ed as an

king for anything specific. Just something to do-an excuse

dy aisle when I

al hum of grocery store chatter, standing out in a way I couldn't ignore. It wasn't loud or forced, just

ner and saw her, I unders

ister, smiling as she bagged someone's groceries. I didn't know

w it, I was grab

the first thing I saw, something small enough th

told myself it wa

n I wen

. And

dictability. A brief, harmless interaction in a life that didn't

't the

was

he Distraction I

t

pect to see

grab a drink and leave. I had things to do-emails to respon

i

g at m

e to this café. It had the best lighting, the least amount of foot traffic, and it

mehow, she

that way people do when they're trying really hard to focus. A nearly full coffee

there watching her, debating w

verthink it, the words wer

e in m

ed up, eyes lo

me to leave her alone. Maybe roll her e

head, raising a skepti

"I usuall

nd the café. "There are, l

s one's

be tell me to find another place,

aling like I was some kind of impossible

disappoint, but

ns. Then, without waiting for permission, I pul

me. "What ar

"Finding a

h-short, disbeliev

ke that, I

she was all polite smiles and quick comebacks, balancing cus

he

e was di

. More

her ear like she'd forgotten it was there. There was something so effortless about the way s

ted, I found myself wondering what her life looked

he have a favorite drink? What was s

ted t

I di

atching as she tried (and failed) t

d no real reason to

oss from her in some random cof

e habit of showing

bit of wanting

rk bench, twirling a lol

, this

bits,

the fresh air before heading home. My phone buzzes in my pocket-probably another wo

p but not too cold. A few people jog past, a coupl

cef

g the lollipop b

d proba

to a habit that isn't so random anymore. I don't even kn

ng flavor. The way she stood her ground at the café, refusing to give up her sea

I know I'm not sto