BABY ROMNTICA

Note: Pure fiction.

i have often wondered if there was such a thing as serendipity. pure, untainted serendipity. thinking about such sometimes makes me sick, but then...

is there a possibility that a lonely heart finds a love at the pits?

i fantasize..

what if i was sitting in that shop, and it was full of flowers -roses. the colors formed a spectrum that renders my heart breathless. the scent was overwhelming, and the beauty was not superficial. the blooms tickled my elbow as the flowershop man passed by with a bouqet of red europeanas. he handed them to an old man, who was showing the boy a picture of his wife -a grey haired woman who had twinkling blue eyes, even from a picture.

what if i was nearly in tears at the sight because it was valentine's day, and i was lonely, because the prince i had, left me. i clenched my fists, not allowing myself to think about it.

what if despite my efforts, tears began to fall in abundance.

what if i didn't want to stop myself because i've done so quite enough?

what if i heard a familiar baritone that spoke in a flourished accent? i looked up and blinked.

what if i opened my mouth to speak, but there was nothing i could do but stare? because a beautiful face was peeking out from behind a bucket of baby romanticas. it was smiling. no, it wasn't familiar at all. and so i found myself staring at a stranger.

what if he turned just a little bit and caught sight of me? and he turned back to the flowershop man.

what if he picked out a baby romantica and brought it to his nose? then he turned my way and stooped low to hand it to me. hand shaking, i reach out to recieve it.

what if i smile?

what if he walks out and looks back just once to smile back?

what if some time later, i forget about him, the face that made me smile that dire valentine's day?

what if it was one year later and i was in Paris going my way, going nowhere, wasting time drowning myself in the undiluted romance?

what if i close my eyes and drop a coin in a fountain, wishing i find my happiness soon? what if i never hear the splash? what if i never feel the tiny trickles hit my legs? what if i open my eyes and look straight into the deepset eyes i saw and forgot, the green eyes that peeked from behind the baby romanticas that valentines day? what if he laughs and holds my hand?

what if he utters the words i, for so long, wanted to hear?

what if he says, "why do you wish for happiness, when i'm already here..?"