She walked in the café alone and asked for a table for one;
I looked at her doubtfully and then around assuming she forgot someone...
But then she smiled and asked my name;
And just like that the world righted itself; her coming alone did not seem insane...
You could sense it in the way she carried herself; in the way she smiled;
In the way her eyes sparkled and the room suddenly felt bright...
You knew that she wasn't lonely rather content in her own company;
You knew that being alone wasn't sad rather empowering...
I introduced myself and walked her to the table with the best view;
She took the seat and sighed looking at the beautiful sea and I just knew...
I knew that to her it was the small things that mattered;
And that her coming here alone was one of best things that happened...
My café wasn't very big, you see;
And she came quite early...
So I asked if I could join her,
And after a moment's reluctance she nodded and signaled towards the empty chair...
I sat opposite her and started talking;
She took some time to open up but then joined in...
From that day onwards she came daily;
And we talked non-stop about random things while we had our coffee...
You must be thinking that it is a love story like all others;
But I hate to shatter the fairy tale and tell you that I did not fall for her...
We used to talk, share our stories and we understood each other;
And it was pure friendship probably that is what makes it better...
She has a heart of gold and a mind sharper than anyone I knew;
And when she spoke she took you to a world created by her but only known to few...
I could sit there and talk to her for almost forever;
And maybe that's why we can still sit at the same table and chatter...
It is thirty years since I first met her;
She is successful and still as humble as she was on the day when she faced her first failure...
She still comes to my café and we have our coffee together;
My wife is very fond of her and she's my daughter's godmother...
Not all women need a man or a woman for that matter;
Some can be alone and still live happily ever after...!!
