She wondered what life would be like if she was born at a different time
A time before him, or a time after him
"What a gift it is to be alive at the same time," she thought
She would never say these words to him for she knew they would only be received as a plea for affection
But she would say them to herself because she believed them to be true
He was no longer speaking to her, but he was surely still speaking about her
The two were no longer in love, but now just two strangers in a grocery store
Strangers in separate isles, completely unaware that their former lover was just three rows away
Two strangers with an abundance of beautiful memories
He would continue to search for love in other men and women. She would decide to be alone
But in this moment, as one looked through bruised vegetables and the other looked for the right brand of buttermilk bread, they both had hope that their soul mate was out there
"What a gift it is to be alive at the same time," she thought, as she passed by an isle and saw a familiar face
He would die four years before her, and she would live to see his wife remarry
She would be invited to the wedding, for she would be friends with the new husband
As the ceremony would begin, she would go outside and smoke a pack of cigarettes
"What a gift it is to be alive at the same time," she would think, as she looked at her soul mate, now ready to marry another
But for now, she was just grocery shopping because she needed to plan for her future without him
As she passed the isle that he was in, she whispered to herself
"Let me be your violent smile."
That's what I need
