I'm a people watcher.
I'll often stare at people and not notice that I have just created their history and visualised their future.
I can be judgmental - in fact the characters I create are based purely on what expression is on their face, what kind of fashion they are wearing, the way they have styled their hair, how often they check their mobile and if they are in their own private ipod heaven.
I am so involved with this process that I am always surprised when someone meets my eyes and exposes my superficial intrusion into their life.
That's why I remember you.
You smiled at me.
The bus was full and you came in and out of my line of vision.
My pupils darted around trying to keep a tab on you.
Quite simply you were beautiful.
I didn't think you could see me.
The bus darted through the peak hour Mexican streets (I was always amazed at how bus drivers in Mexico seemed to be under the delusion that they were driving a sports car and not an ancient, rusting and clearly exhausted motor).
You had curly hair.
My mind raced. You had a labour job, liked extranjeros (but not ones from America), I had the feeling you had been in love many times. You liked driving in the rain, bohemia was your beer of choice, you had no problems falling asleep (you were well-rested), you had a favourite horchata stand where you flirted with the 58 year-old woman to make her feel youthful, in the shower you always washed your underarms first and you had a bad habit of forgetting your keys so your madre had to leave the family tienda to let you in.
I was lost in your story when you exited the bus. You turned around, looked directly into my eyes and smiled.
Not shyly but knowingly and cheekily.
Shocked, I looked around to see if anybody else was smiling back. No one was.
So I did.
In that moment I felt completely exposed. Like you didn't need to create my life because you already knew it.
I was amazed at the connection I felt and looked for you after that day, hoping you would take the same bus.
You never did.
Maybe it was just a smile.
But I haven't forgotten you anyway.
