The brisk wind blew over the bench,
sending a shiver down my spine. I pull my jacket tighter over my shoulders and
put the Styrofoam cup of hot cider to my ever-chilled lips. It’s March, yet it’s
still freezing. It shouldn't be this cold anymore. Weather in the thirties is
for January, not March. That train of thought quickly derailed as soon as she
sat down. She was gorgeous. Light blonde hair that fell in a slight curl to her
sides, though her deep blue eyes met only the concrete. She was without a
jacket, wearing only a black and white striped long sleeve shirt with a very
thin floral scarf to match. She looked absolutely freezing.
“Hi.”
I barely uttered
the word, almost as if I had surprised myself. Her eyes met mine meekly,
finally breaking their gaze held by the ground.
“Hi.”
She responds with
an almost sad smile. I muster up the courage to say, “You uh… You seem pretty
cold. Would you like my jacket? It’s rather warm.” Her gaze said she wanted to,
but was afraid to accept. Her eyes met the stone once more, “Oh no, I couldn't
do that. Then wouldn't you be cold?” She was as humble as a scared child,
wanting to know that the nightmare was all over. It made me pity her. Not in
the selfish kind of way, but the way that makes you want to help.
“No it’s alright,
see, I have a second jacket in my backpack, so it’s really no trouble to me at
all. Are you sure you don’t want it?” She looked at me again. Her cold blue eyes
matched her frigid body language as she shivered. She uncrossed her arm and
began to reach for it, but then stopped. She looked back at the ground, shook
her head, and crossed her arms again in a futile attempt to keep warm. I
retreated back to myself, and we sat there for a few silent moments. I decided
to do something bold. I picked up the jacket and slid down to the middle of the
bench. She jumped a little, startled at my sudden movement. I reached my arms
around her, laid the jacket on her shoulders, and slid back to my original
spot.
She sat there for
a while, looking at me, beautifully confused.
“Thank you.”
I had let my gaze
fall to the ground, afraid to see her take it off in rejection. I looked up,
and she smiled at me again. “No problem,” I say softly. The jacket looks quite
good on her. My slim build helps match hers so it doesn't look super baggy, but
baggy enough that it’s kind of adorable. The light tan coloring helps accent
her scarf, making the whole ensemble just work, like she had been obviously missing
the coat the whole time. We sit in silence as the cars zip by, in all shapes and
colors. I wish I owned a car, but I don’t, so that’s why I’m sitting here at a
bus stop alone with this gorgeous woman. My apple cider is gone by now, leaving
me with a warm mouth, and a sweetly sour aftertaste. Wanting to continue the
conversation, I break the silence.
“I uh… never quite
caught your name.” Her eyes return from spacing and refocus on me and my
question.
“Oh. I’m… Jenna.”
Jenna, a beautiful to match a beautiful girl.
“Hi Jenna,” I
extend my hand to shake, “I’m Mark.”
She reaches for my
hand and grasps it with a surprising firmness. Her hand is cold, pale, and
peeling a little. “Are you still cold?” I ask, still holding her hand. After a
quick moment, she nods, almost reluctantly. She pulls away. “Would you like me
to get you a hot chocolate or something? There’s a Starbucks just across the
way, and my bus doesn't get here for like twenty more minutes.”
“Are you sure? You
really don’t have to.”
“It would be my
pleasure Jenna.”
She blushed as I
said her name; I think I saw the hint of a smile as well. “Thank you Mark,” she
said, “you’re a nice man.” I must have blushed as well, because as I turned to
walk away I heard her giggle a little bit. Her laugh was adorable. I think it
warmed my insides with joy.
Ten minutes have
passed and I’m back with the hot chocolate, but there’s a bus there, and she looks
to be standing. I rush over there just in time to catch her before she takes of
my jacket. “Is this your bus Jenna?”
“Yeah,” she seemed
disappointed, “yeah it is. Here’s your jacket back.” I stopped her while she
was halfway done with taking off the coat. “Keep it. I think you need it more
than I do. Oh and here’s that hot chocolate.” I handed her the cup and then
slid the coat back on her. She looked up at me, and we stared in to each other’s
eyes for a moment, then she pulled my head down to her level and she whispered,
“Thank you, Mark.
I won’t ever forget what you've done for me today.” She kisses my cheek, and
then walks quickly to the bus. I stand there, mouth agape, in awe of what just
took place. My eyes follow her as she crosses the bus and finds a seat. I wave
semi-awkwardly as her bus rolls off.
The rest of the
day I could focus on nothing but Jenna. My boss yelled at me for getting behind
today, I nearly got hit by a car walking home from the bus stop, and I almost
forgot to feed my pug, Gerald, but I didn't really care. I was infatuated with
this woman I had only met once, and was dearly hoping I’d see her again soon. The
next day I wake up normally, and I had finally gotten her out of my head,
convincing myself that I may never see her again. I turn the corner to the bus
stop, and see my bench, and my jacket, and my blonde. I’m not sure I've ever
smiled bigger.
