SILENTLY

It was a cold, windy, grey afternoon. I pushed myself through the door of the busy doughnut shop and threw myself down on a stool. Cigarette smoke filled my lungs and the comforting aroma of freshly ground coffee slowly began to relax me.

Silently I sat. Silently I watched the people -- A lonely old man with sad eyes; a much too bubbly young couple in love; a table occupied by five middle-aged working men with hard hats and grease covered hands to prove it; and an older man whom I could've easily mistaken for your father if it weren't for the fact that he smiled at me when I looked at him.

Silently I stared into my coffee cup. Silently I forced the water that was blurring my vision back into my head.

I'll never see your father smile at me. It hurt to think about it, so I pushed the thought away.

The hot coffee felt good going down but something was missing. I ordered a doughnut and dunked it into my cup. Perfect!

Silently I enjoyed my coffee and doughnut. Silently I reflected on "us". You, with your life; me, with mine; both so very different.

Silently I wondered how two, so very different people could love each other so very much.

Silently I pondered over how good we are for each other.

Silently I finished my coffee and doughnut --and suddenly, like a slap in the face, it hit me! A coffee and a doughnut: you and me; both so very different yet each one incomplete without the other!

Silently I told you 'I love you'

Silently I got up and paid my bill. As I was leaving, I glanced at the man who looked like your father. He had ordered a coffee and a doughnut.

Silently I smiled...and left.


Cathy Roy
Nov/'87