8:55 a.m.

Many times throughout my life I’ve been told to be careful around strangers.

“Stranger danger”, my mother would say, “Be wary of those you don’t know.”

God, I wish I would’ve listened!

No one was stranger than you. Thinking so highly of yourself as you stood across the way. Your curly brown hair fell into your eyes as you smiled and looked down.

You couldn’t be smiling at me, could you?

I wasn’t going to risk it. I look away at the street name, at the traffic light, at the mother and child laughing while (presumably) on the way to school, looking anywhere except at you. But to no avail, those honey brown eyes call out to me like a silent siren song. Enraptured, enamored. Distracted.

God, why is this red light taking so long?

You know what you’re doing as you raise your hand and give a small wave.

To me? It can’t be.

I suppose I can humor you while we wait to cross the street.

Towards each other.

You're laughing now and a small blush creeps up my face.

“Me?”, I mouth.

You nod and laugh again.

Infuriating. Adorable?

Ugh, who are you? And who gave you permission to make me smile?

I turn my head to the side. You do as well.

I stick out my tongue, you cross your eyes.

I laugh. I laugh?

You laugh again.

The people around us think we’re insane.

Where would our first date be? Where will we hold our wedding? How many kids are we having?

Oh, you beautiful stranger. What is your name?

-BEEP-

The flashing walk sign brings us back to reality. I cross. You cross.

We share one last smile in the middle of the intersect.

“Hey”

“Hi”

And off we go.

Thank you beautiful stranger. I love you.

Picture reference: https://www.pexels.com/photo/time-lapse-photography-of-people-walking-on-pedestrian-lane-842339/