Why me?

To a socially awkward kid there is little more draining and terrifying than people.
People…
Individuals with their own moral compass, internal clocks, thought process, and agendas.
Imagine someone spares you a second look or stares for a moment to long.
Is it because you were looked strange? Maybe you did a little too much when getting ready this morning.
No, you look fairly normal. Granted, you might be dressed a little shabby for the specific store your in but nothing that would warrant that reaction.
Perhaps it’s you’re spirit then.
You’re aura must be so peculiar that it was palpable or something.
Breakfast “was” rather nasty after all. That could’ve left a bad taste on your tongue and a worse mark on your spirit.
Then again, it’s probably not that either.
So what then?
If not your unremarkable exterior or a overwhelming vibe.
Well… It doesn’t really matter now does it?
Because that stranger went ahead and approached you. Can you blame them? While overanalyzing you failed to realize you were the one staring like  a fish caught out of the water.
You expect a scolding, a confrontation, or even  a beating at worse.
And yet…

“Really? This ancient relic?”
You cut me off.
“Of course. What better thing to discuss our friendsiversary than the first page out of our shared history book.”
I replied
“I don’t know… How about what to get for takeout? Or that atrocious haircut you got last week.”
“Well what about it.”
“Nothing, it’s just that I could park a private jet on that forehead now.”
“You’re hilarious you know?”
I snared, my voice oozing with mock sarcasm.
“One of us has to be. If you look funny, I’ll be funny.”
You fired back.
“Uh-huh. Since my story is ruined anyway I’ll just cut to the chase and ask you. Why’d you come up to that day?”
You laughed at me, in my face, like it was the ransomest out of pocket question with the most obvious answer. The type that even an illiterate court jester could comprehend.
“Has that really been bothering you all this time? Cause my answer definitely won’t be worth the wait.”
A little irritated I bark back,
“Well spit it out then!”
You took a few dramatic huffs and puffs of air to calm down from the hysteria and answered me yet again.
“Fine, but it will be rather anticlimactic.”
You took a breath and finished your thought.
“I just wanted to.”
Dumfounded I couldn’t help but lose my irritation. Astonished I responded with audible disbelief.
“You’re kidding right? Right? That can’t be it.”
You grinned like a clown and responded in almost a sing-song tone: “And if it is? In the middle of sale at a Dutch bankrupt furniture store in a barely stocked isle on a random Thursday… I felt like approaching you. So I did.”
I stared at you for a second with a befuddled expression. In that moment you casually chimed again.
“Now for the more important question. Dinner?”
Feeling defeated, I gave a simple breathless response
“Pizza sounds good.”
You responded, “Great.”

Lisa Toppenberg