Girl in the Window - 2
the four-minute sequel
Part 1 is HERE - Part 3 is HERE
Part 2
Jeremy gets up with a sigh, and goes to the counter for a refill. He’d like to just walk over to her table and introduce himself. If only he knew what to say. He imagines how it would be to talk with her a while, then walk out the door with her beside him, the feel of her fingers entwined in his.
When he returns, she’s standing at his table! “Hi,” she says, “my name’s Lucy. I see you in here a lot. Mind if I sit down?”
Jeremy manages to strangle out, “Yes! I mean, no! I don’t mind. Please … have a seat!” ( Calm down. You can do this. )
She sets her coffee on the narrow table and sits down opposite him, her knees brushing his. He holds his breath, as if to exhale might make her disappear. He switches off his phone, casually drops it into his coat pocket. He shivers with the nearness of her. ( Oh, God, don’t let me blow this. )
“Hello.” She offers her hand, and says again, “I’m Lucy.”
“Yes, I know. I’ve … I’ve heard them call your name from the pick-up counter a lot of times. I’ve seen your name written on your cup.” ( Christ, does that make me sound creepy? )
“And you’re Jeremy. I’ve been listening, too.” She tucks her hair back behind her ear, revealing a tiny shell earring. Green eyes.
An awkward silence. “Sorry … I’m … I’m just so surprised to finally meet you, I seem to have lost the power of speech.”
“I don’t mind silence. I’m pretty good at it.”
He already knew that. “So…tell me who you are.”
“I’m the girl who’s been watching you watching me for over two weeks.”
He feels himself blush.
“Who am I is a good question, but it’s hard to answer.” She smiles.
“Well, then, what have you been thinking about over there, sitting in the window alone? You always look like you’ve got a lot on your mind.”
“Hmm. Today I’ve been wondering if I’ll have a chance to see Venice before it sinks into the sea. And I’m worrying about how soon I’ll be forced to own a cell phone, and become another scroller and killer of time. And … what’s with kale, anyway? Why do people eat kale? I just don’t get it.”
“These are big issues, Lucy.”
“I know. Go ahead, laugh. But I’ve decided to stop thinking about how our lives will be when democracy is dead in this country. Thinking about stuff like that all the time — it’s exhausting. And pointless.”
“Yeah, I feel the same.”
“So, what about you. What’s on your mind today?”
“Let’s see… what can I come up with that is impressive…?”
“Not looking to be impressed, Jeremy.”
“Alright, then. So… I’ve been thinking mostly about work. My goal is to get up every morning and actually look forward to my day. We only get one life and I don’t want to throw it away in a boring, soulless eight-hours-a-day retail job that I hate, you know? I want work that makes me happy and makes a difference — and still pays enough to make the rent. I’ve actually been working toward getting a certificate to teach English to immigrants. — But can we just go back to what you were saying about cell phones? Because nearly everyone who comes in here sits staring at one, but not you. It makes you look a little deviant, you know, sort of suspicious. Tell me more about that. How do you manage without a cell phone…….?”
~~~
They sit and talk until nightfall, when Jeremy stands up. “Shall we go?” he asks.
“Go where? And do what?”
“We’ll think of something,” he says. “I just don’t want to let this day go.”
She takes his hand, choosing to ignore the ring on it, and they step out into the dark city street.
Zach Seabaugh from his album Mr Nobody, 2023
Oh! He's not the person I expected.... nor is she, but she kind of iiiiiiiissss.... oh, I'm so conflicted - this is brilliant stuff! MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s amazing how one little detail can change everything. Now look at us, all of your readers—begging for more! Great story, my friend!