A GLOOMY RIDE

She was riding the bus to go back home from work, it was raining so much that day and she felt gloomy for some reason. She likes the rain but at the same time, it gives her that nostalgic and melancholic feeling. She was just waiting to get back home, put on her pajamas and then read some book while having a cup of coffee, yes, such a lonely life. However, she liked it that way... or maybe not so much anymore.

As the vehicle moved forward, she was standing up facing the window since there were no more sits available, she looked up, and could see all the buildings, cars and people passing. She fixed her look into another bus that was traveling alongside. Suddenly, someone caught her attention, a young girl who was also standing up facing her; she was wearing a purple hoodie and glasses, apparently listening to music since she had big headphones around her head. 

She continued looking at her and before she knew she was blushing, the girl of the hoodie looked up and somehow their eyes met, people say that you can feel when someone is watching you, she must have felt uncomfortable perhaps. She then looked down immediately, she felt embarrassed. It had been a long time since she felt her cheeks blushing.

That girl seemed to be quite confident of herself. Somehow the girl reminded her when she was younger, always is her own world, but instead of music her scape from reality were books, she loved to lose herself in a good story.

There were still a few blocks until the bus arrived to her stop, she looked up again and saw the girl looking at the side, then she turned her sight to her again. When their eyes met again, she felt a leap in her heart and they just stayed there looking at each other in the middle of the rain that was slowly stopping. She smiled and her heart skipped a beat, she returned the smile and even waved her hand, although it could seem silly, the girl returned the gesture with a smile.

What a weird situation right? It was just a regular day, she was feeling a little sad and this girl, this pretty and lovely girl appeared right in front of her making her smile and making her heart race. Is it what they call love at first sight? Because right now it seemed like so.

So bad that it had to end when she got off the bus, she smiled with sadness thinking that, it was just a sudden crush, after today everything would be the same, the same routine, the same feelings about life, everything. So boring...

The bus finally stopped and she got off, while she was walking, she saw the other bus moving along the street, she denied with the head and kept walking, she decided to go to her favorite bookstore to get a new book instead of reading one of the ones she already had read at home. Therefore, she walked back and turned at the corner, luckily, it was close to her place and she liked to spend time there reading but she always preferred the quiet and comfort of her home.

She arrived there and walked to the romantic novels section, today she felt like reading some nice romance story, after looking around for a while, she picked one up, with the cover being so lovely she could already feel all the heartbreak, then returned home with the book.

That night, after making some instant noodles for dinner, she went to her bedroom and sat on her bed with her back against the headboard, took the new book and enjoyed it until she got too sleepy to keep reading; she placed it on the little table beside her bed and made herself comfortable to sleep, but she couldn't. Many thoughts came to her mind, about her life... or the lack of it.

She was trapped in this routine, she was living a monotone life and these past days she hated it more than ever. Sure, she had what she always wanted, a stable job, her own place, she was an independent and capable woman but she had no one close to talk to, all she had was books, a lot of them.

She wanted to change that, she wanted to be more outgoing and have good friends, even though she keeps a good relationship with her coworkers, she wouldn't call them friends, since they didn't talk or meet at all out of the office. But how could she change her personality? When she goes out she feels uncomfortable and wants to go back home and be alone, but now loneliness is making her feel depressed.

It has been years since the last time she dated someone, maybe as she was getting older she also wanted to feel the love and support expected form a partner, but then again, when she had an opportunity in the past with someone that liked her she got scared and walked away. Moreover, if she does not even go out how is she going to meet someone? She suddenly thought about the girl she saw today, she remembered the pretty smile that she gave her, she sure would be lucky if they meet again. For some reason she wanted to see that smile again, but it was such a rare situation that maybe she was not even waving at her at all and it was her mind making that up.

She stood up and went to the bathroom, then washed her face. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and wondered when was the last time she smiled sincerely; all she could see was a tired and sad face.

She went back to bed, thinking that maybe she would feel better tomorrow.

The next morning she woke up early to take a shower and get ready for work, she had some toasts and coffee for breakfast, then grabbed the book from last night and put it inside her purse. She walked out and closed the door of her apartment. When she got out of the building walked to the bus stop and since it was early she sat there and was waiting alone, so she took her book out of her purse and began reading from where she had left it.

The time passed as well as the people that began to crowd the sidewalks and more vehicles started to walk the streets. She then realized there was someone sat beside her, she looked up and froze for a minute; it was the same girl she saw the day before, but this time she was so close to her and she could admire her pretty eyes and smile. She had long and brown hair, tied up in a half ponytail, white headphones on and she was holding a backpack.

She looked back at her and all she could do was stare. She smiled again and she returned it, her eyes were kind and her smile somehow made her feel warm. She looked down a little embarrassed, it seemed like she knew what she was causing her and it seemed like she had the same effect on the young woman too, their eyes met once again, both with a sincere smile of happiness, not knowing why, but not stopping either. She just didn't expect to hear her voice.

- Hello – said the girl, still smiling at her.

- Hello... – she responded with the same gesture. Somehow, it felt like she would not have any more gloomy days.