Sometimes things just aren't meant to work out. Those were his last words as he turned away and
walked out of your life. It hurt so much because it always seemed like you were giving your all to the
relationship and he was just barely hanging on. You decide then that maybe you need to start listening
to yourself. You saw this coming and still let it happen.
Life goes on like it always does but the hurt and confusion of the breakup was weighing you down,
making it hard to concentrate on life. Your friends tried their best to make you feel better but
sometimes you just have to wallow in a bit of sadness and self-pity before you can move on. You were in
full wallow mode. It's hard to see past the present moment sometimes. The funny thing was, you didn't
even want him back. He hurt you so many times and you knew that it was a never ending cycle that
needed to be broken but you missed having someone there. You missed the routines involved in being
in a relationship. Life was lonely and you were struggling to adjust to such an abrupt change. Like ripping
off a band-aid even after it's gone, the sting still lingers.
A few months pass and one Friday night, you decide that you absolutely have to get away from home,
from those walls that feel like they are closing in on you. You grab your bag and head out to your
favorite place, a small bookstore that also serves coffee. When life gets rough, you forget about it and
lose yourself in someone else's story. The store is quiet for a Friday night but that just makes it even
better. Quiet is what you want. You buy a coffee and start walking the isles of books, looking for any
titles that jump out at you and catch your eye. You are sipping your coffee, completely engrossed in a
book's description when you sense that someone is close to you. You try to ignore them and continue to
read but you begin to feel fidgety so you glance over at them. Near you is a guy who is holding several
books and pretending to be looking at the shelves. When he notices you look over, he smiles and says hi. He almost whispers it, as if the sound of his voice will scare you off. You smile at him and go back to
your book, but he doesn't move. Your smile was enough to encourage him so he speaks up, a little
louder this time, I have read that book. It's a really good one. At this you give him your full attention
and start to notice things about him. He is wearing black jeans, a white t-shirt and the grungiest pair of
converses you have ever seen. He is smiling at you and he has the most adorable face, dimples and all.
You can't help but to smile back and reply, I guess I'll have to read it if you are recommending it then and to that he says I am. It's great. And you burst into laughter because this whole conversation is so
awkward that you have to laugh to break the tension. He must feel it too because he runs his fingers
through his hair and laughs quietly with you. My name is (y/n) you say while putting the book
between your arm and your body, fully intending on buying it now simply because a cute boy
recommended it. You're not sure what has got into you, this is so out of the ordinary for you. You have a
serious case of stranger danger for goodness sakes but there is something about his smile and his
awkwardness that makes you feel at ease near him. I'm Ashton, nice to meet you. He replies. Are you buying all those books? you ask. He looks down at the books in his arms and shrugs, no , I just
haven't made a decision yet on which will be the lucky book to go home with me tonight and he smiles
wide, realizing that his reply has made your cheeks blush. A guy who likes to read and has a sense of
humor....you realize that for the first time in months, you are suddenly excited about what the future
may hold, thanks to the cute guy in the bookstore with the beat up converse shoes and beautiful smile.
