Popcorn for Three

Whenever Amelie and I want to cheer up we go to The Box Social.

It was the first place we met up at last year when we reconnected.

And because of that, it became our place.

It was each of our favorite spot before we met there. 

Which was just another reason why we were soul mates. 

You wanna get a drink at box social? She asked me last night. 

And of course my answer was and always is, Yes.

We walked in and David, as he always does, says, Good evening, Teresa and asks if we're having our usual and we smile and nod and snuggle up on the same side of the booth and look out at the people and the painted walls and the bottles that line the shelves. 

A girl sat down beside us and ordered a drink.

She was dolled up and adorable and seemed content with the sole company of her cell phone. 

Minutes passed and I wondered if she was meeting somebody.

Maybe she's just having a drink with herself, the way I always used to do, I thought. That would be rad. 

She ordered popcorn and Amelie thought that sounded good so she ordered some too.

You can have some of mine, the girl offered, I'm not gonna eat it all.

And with that, we all began talking.

Hours passed and Amelie and I both loved her, thinking it was magical happenstance to stumble upon a kindred spirit who loved this bar as much as we did. 

We talked of love and sex and the critical need we each had for a therapist. 

She was strong and guarded, which I admired, and our night felt like the kind of first date you always hope Tinder might bring. 

But this was just a conversation that had turned into a connection. 

And it was lovely. 

And so simple. 

And such a needed reminder that not everything is painful and chaotic and uncertain. 

Sometimes people simply delight in you. 

And are so grateful you exist, that this moment between you exists, and no one else, because nothing more is needed, but this. 

All this.

"You're miraculous. Because you live."--Our new friend