The First Date
A quiet morning by the river, seen by the wrong eyes
Sunday came at last, bright and clear after a week of rain.
Hannah put on her favourite coat and walked toward the river.
"When we meet, I will finally hear his real voice," she thought.
Leo was already waiting on a wooden beside the water.
He stood up the moment he saw her and gave a wave.
"I am going to remember this morning for a long time," he said.
They walked slowly along the while the birds sang above them.
For the first time, their words came easily, without any napkins.
Leo said that he was going to open his own cafe .
Hannah replied that she would help him choose the coffee.
They both laughed, though they knew such a shop could never .
"When the cafes close for the holidays, we will meet here again," she said.
The morning felt like a they were not supposed to have.
They bought two ice creams and sat watching the slow, shining river.
Leo told her about his , and she told him about her dreams.
Neither of them noticed the woman who was watching from the bridge.
It was Mrs. Park, one of the oldest regulars at The Blue Kettle.
She recognised Hannah at once, and then she recognised the young man.
Her eyes went wide, and she hurried away toward the town.
"Next Sunday I am going to bring you my favourite book," Leo promised.
Hannah smiled and said she would wait for him on the same .
When the sun grew high, they slowly walked back into town.
They said goodbye two streets , so no one would see them together.
It had been the happiest morning that either of them could remember.
But by the time Leo reached his cafe, the had already begun.