The lady in the yellow summer dress or the gentleman in the V-neck. Both, ideally, but the train will soon leave. Don’t be foolish. Look at it differently. Move to the bar, watch their reflections from the glass behind the counter. Wait patiently for the right angle.
Stand casually. Walk slowly. Ask the bartender for a beer. Too expensive. Ask for water. Be casual. Glance at the TV.
Now wait.
Just a little longer.
Hands on the camera. Be ready. Focus.
Now! Turn around and press the button. Leave! Walk through the crowd. Ignore their grumble. Don’t shove the bouncer, that’s what went wrong last time.
Take a quick peek.
The man is grimacing, annoyed by the flash. Hasn’t noticed the weight gathering, around a chiseled jaw.
The woman is rolling her eyes. Assuming this is common attention. Hasn’t felt the growing nose.
Required blemishes.
Friends will abandon. Self-esteem will be lost. Then one step at a time, after chasing what has been lost, two selfish people will step off the pedestal beauty placed them on.
Go home. Drop the film in liquid. Pin them to a string. Watch the faces appear. Add them to the others on the wall.
Hi, I'm Danielle, a published writer and a reader for The Colored Lens. Outside of writing, I work as a graphic & web designer.