pass her by

--she kicks a small pebble with the tip of her shoe; watching it skip ahead 4 sidewalk tiles before finally resting. she follows after it readying to kick again, but notices a gentleman approaching. they exchange a glance and smile to each other in passing. she continues to walk as if nothing happened. she's already forgotten about her pebble though. her thoughts are now concentrated on the person who just entered and exited her life...

he stops for a second; looking back at her as she walks further and further away. he runs after her...

"would you like to have dinner with me tonite?" she looks at him surprised. "i was just thinking, it would be a shame - the two of us passing each other on the street like this. smiling at one another. not even stopping. just to go off to our own separate worlds again..."

"i can't just go out with every guy i smile at," she thinks to herself. "give me one good reason why i should?"

"that's a tough one," he says while scratching his head. she's entertained by his struggle for an answer.

he takes her hand and places it on his cheek; brushing the side of his scruffy unshaven face..."it'll give me a good reason to shave, and i think i look a lot better with a clean face."

pleasantly surprised with his answer, she says, "yes."

--inspired by and inaccurately recalled from i wish someone were waiting for me somewhere by anna gavalda