It's the hair color that catches his attention, flowing in the wind and- god he sounds so sappy (she was the only one who could bring that out in him, even though it was only in the privacy of his own mind).
But the short length throws him off and keeps him from running over to her and pulling her into his arms, despite how much he wants too. He wants to apologize and tell her it was all a misunderstanding. Ask her how could she ever doubt the depth of his feelings when his heart's belonged to her since before either of them were aware.
But then the woman turns around and he feels the poorly healed fractures in his heart reopen and start to bleed. This person looks so much like her it aches, but she doesn't have the same spark in her eyes, the same curve to her lips. She doesn't carry herself with pride when she walks or speaks in a haughty manner to people their age.
This woman has an air of humility, and he gets the impression that she's shy, and there's nothing wrong with that… but-
Kendall was outgoing, fierce, clever, ambitious, determined, and stuck-up and he liked all that about her. Liked the way she challenged him and got all up in his personal space when she thought he was wrong, the way she was willing to put him in his place or how she didn't ignore all the things about him that annoyed her just because they liked each other…
He watches as the woman smiles shyly and accepts a raspberry tart from the bakery owner. Well, not her then (because Kendall couldn't stand raspberries no matter who gave them to her), just someone who looks incredibly similar.
For a moment it feels like the universe is mocking him.
He takes a deep breath and turns to walk in the other direction. He rounds the corner just before e she glances in his direction.