A Chance Encounter

He crossed the street in a hurry.
Pulling his hood over his head,
He ducked in a little book store.
Did she see him?

It never occurred to him,
As he ventured out for a cup of coffee
On a Sunday morning,
That she might have the same idea.

True: this had been “their” coffee shop
When they were together.
But now, months after they parted,
Why was she there?

This is his neighborhood,
He has an apartment
Three blocks away
Not her!

She has walked more than 10 blocks
Past several other little places
To get to this, his place, his territory.
Why?

“May I help you?”
Interrupts his thoughts.
He turns to see a familiar face.
“Annie, is that you?”

She smiles at him and pulls his hood off his head,
Straightening his hair gently with her hand.
Seth! She hasn’t seen him since college,
Nearly 10 years before.

What should he do now?
Make something up, lie, or tell the truth?
“I saw someone I didn’t want to see
So I ducked in here.”

“Oh,” she replied, still smiling the same smile
She had when she recognized him.
“You’re safe in here” she said with a laugh.
He knew she was right.

“Um, uh, so, um, Annie” he fumbled
Looking for intelligent words to say.
“Do you work here all day?”
Oh, god, that was stupid!

“No, just till noon” he heard her say.
“Are you busy this afternoon?”
No plans, that’s good; now ask her
“Would you like to go for coffee?”

He smiled with joy when she said yes.
Amazing things happen
For ridiculous reasons
Or do they?

“I’ll see you at noon!”
He said as he left.
Must go find her and thank her,
For invading my neighborhood.