Reflection

The morning sun sleepily rises
I can see the large clock tower; I can almost hear the ticks
Just one minute more to eight

The cross junction slowly fills up with cars
I can hear the tire screeches, I can almost see the smoke
Just the usual daybreak scene

Ah! There goes the bell
I jumped up from the curb excitedly
Any moment now

Yes, there... I see you now
Weaving through the rush-hour crowd with ease
Just like every day

You have your hands in your pockets
A bored, sleep-deprived look in your eyes
School shirt half tucked in, green tie half undone

I know this sight so well
You were always like this when we meet, always at this corner
I were the one you depended on to straighten the tie and shirt

.

Until that day

It was a morning like all other mornings
The same cars, the same crowd, the same promise to meet
But, you never came

And never did for... I lost count

I never gave up; I waited and waited
Because we had that promise
Remember?

Finally one rainy morning
I saw you trudging through the crowd
And stood up overjoyed; You are here!

But you... you never looked anywhere else but ahead
You walked past my outstretched arms
And left me behind

I had but one resolve now
Today, I would confront you
What happened to us? I want to ask

You were reaching me, I held out an arm to stop you
To my surprise (or not...), you stopped!
Your red-dulled eyes and pale face rendered me speechless

“Yo, it’s been a month, forget it and move on”

It was your friend speaking, your friend standing behind me
I stole a look at you, and was stunned
I saw that tear rolling down your cheek

“How could I? She never even said good bye”

You answered as you glanced carelessly at a shop window
For a moment, I thought I saw you stiffen
But then, you shook your head and walked past me

.

Again

.

I was curious; what did you see?
I in turn glanced at the window
The window that reflected the world

Where was I in the reflection?