Glances

Streetlights

He flicked his cigarette and checked his watch.He didn't have anywhere to be, he made sure of that, but tonight made him feel like time was fleeting.
He looked over and spotted a nice looking coffee shop, "coffee after 7 pm, I'll regret this tonight" he thought to himself. "Oh god" he sighed aloud, to even think something like that proved that he was getting old and there was no denying it anymore.

The coffee was terrible, the waitress wasn't friendly but it didn't matter because damn, what a view. He took a patio seat and tried to focus harder to see if he  could mentally photograph this and file it his brain- save it for a rainy day.
Warm light from streetlights reflected off the waters and danced on the cobblestone street. String music played somewhere, plenty of people talking and laughing. A boat full of people rowed by, all smiling except a young lady all the way in the back, she looked like she'd just finished crying, the young man next to her had created as much distance as he could between the two of them. A man to his right was scribbling in a journal and arguing with himself-must be a poet. An older woman just up the street was drinking red wine and telling the woman sitting across from her about a man named Simon and how he was neglecting her needs she emphasized the word by raising her eyebrows.
"Anything else for you hon?" the waitress interrupted him.
"Uhm no, I think I- well actually do you have pie?"
"Uhh no pie, we have coffee cake and scones"
"Oh, well I'll take some coffee cake, thanks"
"Sure thing"
The cake wasn't good. It wasn't bad but it wasn't any good but he finished anyways. Of course he'd find the one place on this stretch that didn't serve good food. He checked his watch again. An hour had passed and he barely noticed. He paid and got up to look for something else further down, he had seen all the coffee shop view had to offer.
There was new music now, a small band, but they were loud, playing in a little bar, all he could see through the large front window were a lively couple dancing and he chose to ignore the drunk man yelling outside, who'd just been kicked out. The music stopped and someone got on the mic. She started rambling
"Okay that is a hard act to follow, of course they put the old timer up here after..." He turned to walk away, to find a new view, he's seen all the little bar had to offer.
He heard her laugh first...he stood still
He was sure his mind had mistaken it, what were the odds they'd come to the same place again. He listened for only a moment longer to hear it again. He didn't.
Instead only a soft voice followed a strumming guitar and he knew it, it HAD to be.
I'm in the mood for love, simply because you're near me🎶
He walked into the little bar and stood by the door, almost scared to actually see her after all this time.
Funny but when you're near me, I'm in the mood for love🎶
She looked different, her long black hair was graying in the front, her eyes now had little lines in the corners, and more lines gathered around her mouth.
Heaven is in your eyes, bright as the stars we're under🎶
She had painted little roses on her guitar and sat on a stool in the middle of the small stage. She still seemed to commanded everyone's attention, drunk and sober alike- a hush fell over the shabby place.
Oh is it any wonder?🎶
She saw him as soon as he stepped in, hard to miss his 6 foot frame. He looked exactly the same, more relaxed and a bit thinner but the same man she'd fallen for all those years ago.
He caught her stare and smiled that damn smile at her hoping she'd remember.
I'm in the mood for love🎶