Stranger at the mall

It was to be an ordinary trip to the mall, in no way significant enough to write about. If I had stood in any of the smaller queues to pay for the trolley full of provision for the month, it would certainly have passed as a routine trip. Something I was getting painfully used to.

But today was different. I stood behind a lady who had 2 trolleys full of goods. Why did i choose this line when there  were so many others ? I have no idea. It was just instinct I guess. This lady was fair, lean and very fragile. Not much older than myself, I noted. She seemed disappointed and frustrated; a certain emptiness in her just standing there and sizing up her stuff. She looked at me and gave me a weak smile. I smiled back.

As the conveyor belt at the checkout counter cleared up before her, she had trouble emptying the contents of her trolley onto the counter. I quickly moved up to help. She smiled and refused to let me. “It’s OK. I’m fine. Thank you” she said smiling. She was in a hurry to dump everything at one go. I stood back sadly, but still tempted to try. The counter on the other end was getting full too,with bags full of goods she’ll have to pay for. She still has another trolley to unload, I thought. I stepped forward again to help her with it. This time, she didn’t object.

As we were working together, she suddenly caught my hand in a firm grip and looked into my eyes. “Let me give some advice” she said, “don’t get married soon. You won’t have a life.” She let go of my hand but didn’t move her eyes. I stared back, not knowing how to react. I laughed. She still had my eyes. I could suddenly read the pain in those eyes. Now I knew why she looked disappointed…why she seemed dissatisfied. She turned to the trolley again and I continued to help.

She often looked up at me. Maybe she was checking if I really understood what she was trying to say ? All her goods were paid for now. We moved the bags into the trolleys again. She was leaving now. Trying to push both trolleys at the same time. Everyone seemed to have their eyes on her. I moved closer and put one hand on the trolley. “No” she said, smiling “I’ll manage.” She pushed the trolleys, putting her full weight behind them, I guessed. I couldn’t move an empty trolley without putting my weight behind it. She was doing better than me! She reached the exit and stopped abruptly. I wondered what happened. She turned around and her eyes found me. She waved, smiling. I waved back. A sudden warmth spread through my chest. And then,she was gone.

I’ll never forget that lady. I’ll remember her face. Will I see her again? I have no idea. But if I do, she won’t be just a stranger who gave me advice. We’ll be great friends. I just knew it !

© Krisheaven