Hoping For A Smile

They come upon each other, unknown entities.
He wonders about her in the moment as they come towards each other on the sidewalk.

He’s compelled to smile, in a glancing kind of way, not wanting to be direct.
She then smiles, barely.
Or maybe it’s an expression for the sake of an expression, reacting, without thinking, to his smile, just being a bit friendly.
Maybe not even a smile but a normal setting of her lips.

Maybe spontaneous smiling is something she doesn’t do.
Or possibly it’s just too quick of a moment for a response, not knowing what to do, not knowing enough about her feelings and thoughts at the moment.

Or maybe she’s too engrossed thinking of something at work or home.
Or thinking of someone she loves — husband, partner, or companion, or a pet.
Or maybe she’s shy and introspective.

Or maybe she doesn’t want to risk what might come should she smile.
What would he say next? Then what would she say? And so on. Or maybe nothing at all?
Where might this interaction go after that? A lot to consider in these milliseconds.

Even as an unformed thought arises that he might be interesting.
Possibly worth a bit of momentary banter on the sidewalk.
Or just a smile and nothing more.

Or maybe she’s too thoughtful, not at all spontaneous, not wanting or able to let things evolve naturally with minimal thought.
To just be in the moment, so they say.

Could this be a fairy tale in the making, if a smile is allowed to occur?
The beginning of true love, occurring by the happenstance of his smile and hers in return.
Then she thinks yes to smile.
But it’s too late as he’s past her, melding into the other sidewalk entities.

What was he to expect, could expect, should expect?
What did he want in return for his smile?
A similar smile? A word or two of acknowledgement, or a short chat on the sidewalk exploring, albeit briefly, any commonality?

What would have come next? Exchange of contact info or a quick coffee if available nearby?
And would their conversation flow easily, without getting too deep. Without having to expose too much of themselves, at this stage in their knowing each other.
Or maybe it’s well that nothing came of it. Maybe they weren’t meant to connect as it would not have worked out in the long run.
So he is thinking. And maybe thinking too much.

He hopes, why not, that she may come again.
And that he should come this way at this time again soon.
Who knows. Maybe she’ll remember him and smile.

Or maybe it’s her that wants to come by again.
As she considers the possibilities with him.
Maybe she’ll smile first. Hoping that he’ll stop to say hello, and so on.

Or maybe there will be other chance meetings with others, for each of them, somewhere else.
With initial smiles, followed by a few friendly words, followed by who knows what to come next.
Just about anything is possible. Isn’t it?

But. All he had hoped for was a smile in return.
That would have sufficed, would have made his day.
And yes, that’s all she would have done.