The Hershey Kiss.

This morning I took the train, for a change it was late by about five minutes at my station, which was soon explained by the fact that it kept stalling. It firstly died in Sainte Anne, then slightly before Montreal West, twice.

The metro was also having trouble, I suspect that raccoons got into the engines and broke them.

I got to work half an hour late, but I digress.

In the train, the air was very romantic, the wagon I sat in had no lights, nor heat.

A few stops farther, a young girl took a seat facing me, about three rows up.

She immediately huddled herself in her jacket and shut her eyes, with her arms crossed upon her chest, elbows resting on a large red duffel bag. She had dark hair tied up under her hat, perhaps in a ponytail or a chignon. Right as she closed her eyes I noticed a bunch of boys taking the seats directly behind her.

One of them discreetly set a Hershey Kiss down on the seat next to her and ducked back in his group.

She was sleeping and didn't notice the boy, nor the Hershey Kiss, I started watching a Frasier episode on my iPod, but kept on glancing up, naturally curious to see if she would notice the gift.

A few other passengers who had witnessed the scene, were all keeping tabs as well.

Eventually she woke up long enough to wrap a mesh scarf around her neck, but failed to notice the chocolate delicacy, instead she cozied down a bit farther in her jacket and pulled a hoodie over her head.

As we neared her stop she yawned, opened her eyes and stretched. Picked up the duffel bag and laced the strap over her shoulder, then spotted the Hershey Kiss.

She had a slight double-take when she first laid eyes on it, but quickly caught herself and kept cool. She got up and walked away with the boys in tow.

The Hershey Kiss remained lonely, on the seat. Perhaps someone else picked it up but as I left, it was still there.

I exited the car by the rear and completely lost sight of her and the boy. I suppose they went to the same school, perhaps taking the same class. From all appearances they were high-school seniors or first year college students.

I couldn't help but be reminded of my own courtship with my wife. At the time she also chose to ignore me, sometimes cruelly, yet, here we are.

Here we are.