Not Shopping

Not Shopping

Driving home on the same streets I drove home on every workday; I suddenly got the urge to go somewhere, anywhere that wasn’t my same old apartment. And my same old apartment nights with nobody to talk to but my TV. Who never talked back…

As I drove up to a stop sign, I decided to go uptown. I knew there wasn’t much ‘town’ in our town, but it was better than arriving home and being alone, again.

I had money enough to eat out, though the idea of eating at a restraint alone, didn’t sit well. But I could order take out and either bring it home, or eat it in the car. Or maybe just eat junk food, I was really in a mood!

As I drove through the business section, I saw a jewelry store that must have opened after I’d been here last. Feeling better about my wandering, I decided to go in and check it out before I hit the fast-food joint, and then, likely, just go home.

Parking out front I stood outside perusing the lovely things through the glass. Lots of silver and gold, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, plus many glass trinkets. I couldn’t remember the last time I even wore jewelry.

I went in. There weren’t any other customers, likely because it was almost closing time. There was a guy putting things under the glass counters, likely cleaning up to close.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

Awkward, what do you say about stopping at a shop out of sheer boredom with your life, knowing you had no intention of buying anything! I turned around to say something, but suddenly I apparently forgot how to talk.

That was the day I met Alex. And now we are spending out lives together.