PASSING STRANGERS
I had come out of my lawyer's office feeling in desperate need of a shot of coffee.
Black and strong, maybe laced with something stronger.
I had signed the final papers of my divorce.
Decree Absolute.
Signed.
Complete .
Finito!
I should have been dashing to meet my boyfriend to post the banns for our wedding but my caffeine levels had a definite priority.
Now, I gathered my bag,sunglasses and cellulare together, and threaded my way through the pavement tables and turned onto the street.
As I stepped out of the shade of the café's canopy, the bright afternoon sunshine blinded me for a moment. I blinked and had an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.
I stopped in the middle of the pavement and a man behind me bumped into me.
"Scusi."
"Stupid cow. " he muttered back.
I ignored him and ran my eyes back over the street looking, searching it again.
I shrugged.
Whatever it was, it had gone.
No, there.
A man had come out of a bar opposite and was standing on the edge of the kerb waiting for a gap in the traffic.
A fag already in his mouth, he flicked his lighter and took a long drag.
Déjà vu!
How often had I seen him do that.
That long first pull on the cigarette; I could almost smell the Nationali.
That was what I had recognised. That, and his height, his black hair desperately trying to be allowed to curl, his long thighs.
He took the cigarette from his mouth, watching for a gap in the traffic to allow him to run across. As he dodged through the car lanes, our eyes met and he hesitated, to a blare of horns from irate drivers. He waved his hands in apology to them and got out of their way fast.
My stomach did that old elevator drop.
Lio.
I always called him that. In our bed, my hands in his hair, his mouth on mine.
Lio!
How often had I whispered it.
When things were good.
And our marriage was still sweet.
I slid on my sunglasses to hide the sudden sting in my eyes.
He reached the kerb, ten metres away from me.
Aurelio.
Hesitating once more, he raised his hand briefly.
I nodded slightly.
And we turned and went our different ways.
._.