2/13/05

That was the first time he had ever laid eyes upon her. She was beautiful, like a dark angel sent to rescue him from the suffocating white of the building and landscape. Never had he seen such exquisite beauty, so simple, so pure. He could see the pain in her eyes; her suffering was her beauty. He watched her glide with such grace, her long, wavy, dark hair bouncing lightly with each step. She arrived at the bench, dropped a book onto it, and there she sat on the edge, staring out the window, as if anticipating some large fire that would incinerate the bitter, icy cold of the New England winter. She murmured something lightly to herself and continued staring. He thought she seemed on the verge of tears, but was mistaken as she turned her head. Her eyes met his. The deep brown orbs penetrated him for what seemed an hour. After what truly was only a few seconds, she batted her long, curled lashes in a single blink and turned her head back to continue gazing out the window. From her profile he could see one side of her light-complexioned face. The pink of her cheek matched that of her lips, out of which another, even shorter, murmur escaped. How he longed for her to speak to him, or to gaze again in his direction, yet he did not know her name.

Alone she waited by the bench, staring out the window. She still seemed apt to weep, but did not look dispirited. Long he watched her from the window of the room behind her, catching her person in every glance possible. He continued to stare in wonder, in curiosity. He longed to be nearer her, but she seemed to fade farther and farther away.

Occasionally someone would enter the building, seeing her from outside first through the window, then walking directly past her. Not one of them appeared to notice her in the least; he was all alone in his admiration, confusing and exciting him all the greater. How could they not see her, not too be entranced by her presence? It will never be known to him, as will not whether she ever thought of him in her moments staring out the window.