I peer from between the jars of coffee at the wondrous creature sitting at the till. I run my finger aimlessly across the bags of sugar and boxes of Jaffa cakes. I wonder if she has a boyfriend. I wonder if she might be the one. I wonder what book she is reading – oh God let it be a good book. I take a deep breath, and decide to take a closer look.
‘Can I have twenty cheap cigarettes,’ I sigh.
She is reading A Lover's Discourse by Roland Bathes.
The girl looks at me from behind her wonderful book, then looks across at the cheap cigarettes. She selects the cheapest, places them on the counter, and for the briefest of moments I catch a glimpse of her wondrous lips. A smile begins to form. A beautiful smile. A bewildering smile.
I place the correct money on the counter, and just as her beautiful smile becomes complete – she hides its breathtaking glory behind her wonderful book once more.
‘Thank you,’ I smile.
‘You're welcome,’ she replies.
I leave the shop, light a cheap cigarette, and know my life has been forever changed.
