He pretends to not notice her and attempts to read his paper, drink his coffee, and mind his own business but can not help himself to a second look, and then another. She glances his way just for a second wishing for the chance that their eyes will meet but he quickly ducks his head into the world news section to avoid any discomfort.
She, disappointed, returns to the simple plot mystery she had found in the seat next to hers on the subway. She was only interested in the book because it had no front cover and the pages appeared to be leafed through over and over as though it was at one time someones favorite. She loved the idea that something that was once so precious to another was now hers to enjoy.
A small round man enters the shop and marches straight to the counter. He makes a point to the barista that he comes into this shop all the time and has never left satisfied by the service offered. The woman, weary from the day of dealing with this same type of customer since four in the morning, takes a deep breath and promises him the coffee of a lifetime. A few minutes pass and she has his special ordered small latte with extra sprinkles. He takes the lid off and sees the extra sprinkles he had ordered in the shape of a happy face He is overwhelmed. He looks at her, and slowly a tear forms in his eye. She smiles at him and he at her and then he turns and walks away out the door.
Having witnessed this scene of human emotion in an otherwise bland little coffee shop, the two strangers once again exchange looks from across the room. He gathers his courage and leaves his paper behind. He walks up to her and asks what she was reading. She responds with the title. He smiles and says, "I love that book. I had a copy, but I lost it today on the subway."
(just a little fiction to get you thinking)
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