Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Every Sunday, I release a new short story in the ‘Sunday Story Time’ series! These stories could be about anything, but they will all be short. Two-minute reads at the most—just a small bit of imagination to take you into your week. Enjoy!
The Woman In The Window
Our story takes place on a cold, drizzly evening in Paris. It’s early January. The Seine is about to burst its limestone banks. The city is full of holiday travelers who have come from all over the world to experience Christmas and New Year’s festivities in Paris. Museums, restaurants, and Christmas markets are all bustling and packed with joyous holiday revelers. The city of light feels like it’s bursting at the seams.
Amid the activity, at a streetside cafe a couple blocks south of the Louvre, sat August Bell, absolutely mesmerized by the woman seated at the table just inside the door. She was stunningly beautiful. The kind of beautiful that you forget exists until you come face to face with it. She was clearly Parisian, August thought, dressed quite fashionably in a long black peacoat, sleek leather boots, with a scarf draped elegantly around her neck. But as August stole more glances of the woman, he could see a tragedy starting to emerge.
He saw that she was sat by herself at a table for two. And that she had no interest in the espresso placed in front of her. She was blankly staring out the rain-speckled window into the street, lost in thought, and with the deepest look of sadness written across her face. Every now and again she would quietly wipe away a tear or two that had escaped and run down her cheek. As time went on August realized that the woman was stealing glances back in his direction. She seemed to be clinging to the smiles from August and his family as they laughed together and enjoyed the evening. In that moment, August felt something familiar. He recognized the pain and sadness in this woman because he had the same pain and sadness in himself.
Four months prior to this night, almost to the day, August had asked his wife of one year for a divorce. They separated immediately. He suffered much in his short marriage. And so did she. They weren’t meant to be together, something they both knew somewhere deep down. But when you’re pushing 35 and you want to find someone and start a family, it’s far too easy to overlook important details of compatibility.
And so it was that August was meant to be seated at the cafe this evening with his bride on what would have been their second trip to Paris together. Instead, he found himself there surrounded by his family, brothers, sisters, partners, and parents. But also alone. Family isn’t a substitute for the life he thought he had started, but it was enough to keep him smiling, at least when people were looking.
August and his family had a wonderful night at the cafe. Trading stories and comparing notes on the things they had experienced in Paris thus far. He kept stealing glances at the woman in the window. He didn’t know what had caused her sadness, but he knew her sadness. He desperately wanted to say something to her. To tell her he’s there too. That she isn’t alone. But as he sat and thought nothing came to mind. He realized he couldn’t find the words because there’s a kind of sadness that words can’t help. You feel it in the center of your being and it makes the world seem bleak and pointless and dark.
August was lost in these thoughts for quite some time when the tap came on his shoulder and it was time to go. What was he going to do? He didn’t know yet. But as his family got up to leave he made sure to be the last person to stand. He felt compelled to make contact with the woman. She was still seated alone at her table for two, just inside, looking out the window pretending not to watch as August’s family filed past her on their way to the metro station.
This was his chance.
August stopped in front of the woman. They made eye contact. Tentative at first, as if acknowledging that they had been watching each other all night.
And then, with no words to say, August simply smiled. It was the warmest and kindest smile that he could manage. He stood there smiling down at her, and she sat staring up at him with tears welling in her eyes.
It felt like minutes but it was only moments. And then a smile began to creep across her face. She wiped a tear away.
As these two strangers stared into each other’s eyes, much was communicated but nothing was said. He smiled as if to show her that the world won’t be bleak and dark forever. He smiled to show her kindness and hope. She smiled back as if telling August that she understood. That she could see the sadness they shared. And that August wanted only to offer her a moment of kindness and warmth. They both felt a deep connection, despite not speaking.
His family had made their way down the street and were now looking back at him. August could feel them pulling him away. He reached his hand up and waived to the woman. She waived back.
And that was the end of it.
As August turned away, and walked towards his family, he realized that for the first time since his divorce, he felt a profound sense of hope for his future.
MW 