From The Roundhole

I was witness to something today. I've thought about it all day long. I was in a small store getting a bottle of water, when I watched a couple coming towards me. The man was in his 40's, a big guy, knit hat, plaid jacket while his wife was small, late 30's maybe and slightly mousy but still beautiful by any measure. The man was pushing a small cart with a few items, and a woman was following him. As they approached I overheard the woman speaking. She said, "Do you think we could get a bottle of champagne, a really cheap bottle, to celebrate our anniversary?" As I watched her face, and her eyes, I realized she knew the answer before it even came. Her husband ignored her, I watched him scowl as he walked past me. As she walked by, her eyes were to the ground in a profound sadness that I could feel from 10 feet away. I wondered what would happen if she looked up and saw me watching, but she did not. Although I don't know the entire story, if I could have gifted her that bottle I would have. It was obvious to me that she craved a little romance like someone dying of thirst in the desert. Men are stupid sometimes. There may be a day when that man wishes he could go back, change things. I know that I do.