I noticed her the moment I came into that small cafe. Those deep, dark eyes… I bet I’ve seen them before. I don’t remember where. She was sitting near the window in the cozy alcove, with her mug full of coffee. She sat so still, and her face was so devoid of emotion that I could have sworn she was hypnotized. I could see her face from where I sat, and it charmed me. I was trying to recall where I had seen it before, when a small tear dropped into her mug.
— Excuse me, Miss?
— Yes, you can take the chair.
She didn’t even turn her face to my direction.
— No, I’m sorry, if you don’t mind, may I…?
I sat in front of her, which made her turn to me at last. I’ll never forget this look full of despair! She was looking me in the eyeball, as though she was looking through me, as if I didn’t exist.
— I’m sorry if I bother you. I just… I noticed that you’re very sad. Maybe I could help?
She looked at her cold coffee and answered me with the same still voice:
— No, you cannot help me. No one can, so you may not waste your time.
— Excuse me, I do not believe that there can be a situation that cannot be solved. Whoa, look at me, please. You know I have no idea why I’m doing this, usually I don’t, but something tells me that I can do this for you. Please, don’t think I’m crazy, I mean it!
— I don’t think you’re crazy, I just… I do not…
— No, no, no! Don’t say anything you don’t want to happen. And now tell me, is it money? What’s in your check? Six bucks? Well, here’s ten, come on, let’s get out of here.
She probably thought that I was nuts or something. She passively followed me until I grabbed her hand and took her outside. I had no wish to think about what I was doing, so I just kept walking down the street until I found a nice alley with a solid bench in a quiet corner. I sat her down and sat near, holding her hand. Her eyes were still so sad that for a moment, I wished I’d never seen her this way. I don’t know why, but it hurt me as if she were my sister. That feeling was strange. She wasn’t even in sorrow. It looked like she wasn’t fully on this planet anymore. I was trying to figure something out when she came back to reality, looked at me, and… she was trying to say something when a bright idea came to me.
— Alex.
— Emi.
— Nice to meet you, Emi. Do you want to see my favorite place in New York? Come on, it’s the right time.
And I took her to the subway, holding her hand in the train. She followed me the whole way to the Bridge. She was quiet and never said a word. I talked for the both of us. I asked her questions and answered them. I did it in a way I thought was the best to stay cheerful and optimistic. She just followed me, never gave me a smile, just kept to herself, but I had this strong feeling that I was doing the right thing. I don’t know why.
The day was almost over. The sun softly touched the skyscrapers with pink and orange—just the time for the scenery that could be seen from the Brooklyn Bridge. I took her to the middle and turned her so she could see the most spectacular view.
— Now, Emi, you tell me, isn’t it worth it? Isn’t it beautiful?
The moment was really breathtaking. The colors were creating unbelievable sky paintings. It couldn’t keep anyone still. She just whispered:
— Oh, yeah…
Then turned and leaned her back against the parapet, slipped to the floor, and said:
— I don’t… I’ve lost my belief.
I sat in front of her, grabbed her shoulders, and asked:
— In what, Emi, what belief?
— Belief in love, she said, and crystal tears started from her eyes.
I raised her from the ground and looked into her eyes. I bet I’d seen them before. A little tear flew down onto the point of her nose. And it was so dear and familiar, I would never dare, but I just kissed this salty tear and the tip of her nose. At that moment, she turned quickly and looked at me as if… she remembered something.
— Hi, she said.
— Hi!
— Where have you been so long? I was even starting to give up on you.
And this was like we were never apart. Like I never lost her, and she never tried to find me again. And it was so clear and tender. Like it was long ago, when we were together…