There’s a little cafe down the block from my drab, one room apartment that I go to regularly just to sit, nurse a cup of coffee, and watch the people hurry by. They’re always so wrapped up in their own worlds they don’t notice the strangers around them. One day, I notice an older gentleman sit at the table across from me. I’ve seen him here before, but I never knew his name. Today, I decided to join him. I learned that his name is James, he has 3 kids, and 8 grandkids. I asked him about his wife, and He told me about they day they met:

“I was 17, young and on top of the world. I was working at a local ice cream shoppe when the most beautiful girl, wearing bright red lipstick, came in and ordered a strawberry cone. Her name was Lily, and I couldn’t let her leave without asking her out. It took some convincing, and a lot of flirting, before she finally agreed. Let me tell ya, that was the best date of my life! We did it all, movies, starlit dinner, and dancing till the sun came up again. I even got a goodbye kiss. We dated for 3 months before I worked up the nerve to get her fathers permission to marry her. 2 months later, she was my wife. 8 months after that, our son Harry was born. Our life was full of laughter, fights, and love. We used to come to this cafe once a week for lunch. She would always order the catfish, with extra fries, and a sweet tea.”

He then looked down at his hands, and stayed quiet for a bit. After a while, he looked up at me with a sad, tearful smile. He continued, “She died 3 years ago. She got really sick, and none of the doctors could figure out exactly what was wrong. I tried my damndest to make sure her last days were filled with love, light, and laughter. Some days were easier than others, but she was still that beautiful girl with the bright red lipstick, eating a strawberry ice cream. She died in my arms. It was months before I could bring myself to leave the house. Now, I come here for lunch every week and I order the Lily Special-catfish, with extra fries, and a sweet tea.”

It’s been 2 months since I met James, and I still join him every week at the little cafe down the block from my drab, one room apartment.