She stepped out

The light turned red.

I stopped the car.

We had spent the morning together.

We had got a full one and a half hours,

And I was in bliss.

"I can't live a moment without you"

She said

squeezing my hand

The light turned green,

In a few minutes from now,

She would get off.

"How will you spend your time?"

She asked.

"Don't worry, I'll find things to do,

There's anyway lots I have to do"

I said, sounding casual.

I couldn't see her go,

The time she stepped out of my car

Is the time I wanted her back the most

And my mind exploded at that moment,

Everytime.

"How long will it take you?"

I asked

Hiding the choking within my voice

"An hour, an hour and a half"

She said,

squeezed my hand again

And got out.

I sat at the coffee shop.

Looking at dried flowers

falling from a tree,

withered...

A couple sat at the other table

Cozying up closer

Clicking pictures of each other

I knew I'd never be able to take pictures of her with me

Even if she didn't stop me

That was an unwritten rule I had read in her eyes

One day, she would be gone

And I'd not have a picture of ours together

I looked at my watch

An hour had passed

And each second I had grown more restless

Missing her,

Wanting her back

I was sure she too must be thinking of me,

Wanting to be back in my arms,

To be cradled and nursed...

I ordered a second coffee

A salesman from across the wall called out to me

He had some incense sticks in hand

"Buy one of them"

He said, more like a command

I nodded my head and turned away

I could hear him leave,

Cursing me under his breath.

I looked at my watch again.

It was nearly two hours.

I looked at my phone.

I had done it hundreds of times in the last two hours.

Hoping to read "Will be done in ten minutes"

Or "Sorry I'm getting late. Will get out of here soon and text you."

Or atleast "I'm missing you."

It was past two and a half hours now.

I hoped she hadn't lost her mobile.

Or hadn't run into traffic in her absent mindedness

Oh god please no!

Why can't she be more careful.

Finally the mobile rang

I jumped at it.

"Can you pick me up in ten mins?"

It said.

A rush of relief and joy.

I signaled to the waiter to bring my cheque

I was desperate to leave,

To have her back by my side.

I was back with her now,

We were driving

And she said "I've to go home, mom called."

My mind went blank.

"Should I drop you straight home?

"I think you should.."

I did.

"I wish you had finished your meeting earlier,

We could have spent more time together"

I said.

"I didn't spend any more time than was needed."

She said.

If we had a picture together,

It would kill me each time to look at it.

Since we had none,

Her picture was in my heart

And a little bit of my heart died with every beat

Trying to bring the picture to my eye.

She stepped out,

The light turned green.