Chapter 12
412 Words
“Hello again.”
Lily…
“Oh!” You blink, with that moment of hesitation that says you know you know me but can’t think from where. “Hello.”
I smile. “We met a few days ago. At the market. You dropped your bag.”
My Lily…
Your face clears. “Oh, yes. You helped me pick up my stuff.”
“That’s right.”
I’m about to continue, but the shopkeeper interrupts me. “That’ll be three-sixty, please.” He bags up some chick-mag you’ve picked out, along with bread and eggs while you rummage for change in your purse. As you turn to hand him the money and take your goods, your hair swings, long and glossy and black, and the scent of you carries with the slight movement of the air.
I paint on a half-assed grin. “Don’t drop them this time, will you.”
You flash a smile at my joke. “I won’t.” It’s a beautiful smile: your teeth straight and white and clean. A touch of colour at your lips. A trace of pencil and mascara at your eyes. All very subtle. Very subdued.
But it’s all you need.
I offer my hand to shake. “I’m Pat.”
You take the hand, give it a brief shake. “Marty.”
“Marty? Nice name. You… um… you live around here, do you?”
“Just down the road.” You pause, in that way of strangers who want to be polite but don’t know what to say. “Anyway, nice to meet you again.”
“Can I… get you a cup of coffee or something?”
“Thanks, but no. I’ve got stuff to do.”
Clutching your bag, you try to slide past me to the door, but I follow your steps. “Hey, no strings. Just a cup of coffee.”
Your smile withers. “Thanks, but no. Like I said, I’ve got stuff to do.”
You push past me again, and once more I follow.
“Hey, you!” It’s the shopkeeper. “The lady said no.”
What the f**k’s it to do with you?
But I stand back, let you pass, then watch your retreating back as you hoof it down the street.
The shop-keeper growls from behind the counter. “You buying?”
“I don’t think so, no.”
“Then move your ass and make room for paying customers.”
*****
- Writer
