His head resting upon his arm propped against the table. A waitress comes closer to us and asks what he’s like to drink.
“Water should be fine.”
“I’ll get that right away sir.” She walks away without asking me what I’d like to drink.
He buries his head into arms once again. Why is he so sad? I’m right here, can’t he see me?
The woman comes back with his water. I reach out to grab it for him but I’m too far away from the glass. He grabs it and nods his thanks to her. His long fingers wrap around the glass covered in condensation. He brings it up to his pale lips and takes one long sip.
I’m thirsty.
I take a look around the café. Big green house plants cover the entirety of the floor. The place smelled like leaves and crushed flower petals. It was intoxicating and made my head buzz. I hate when we come here. The open windows shine too much light on me and I can see how dry my hands are.
I’m still thirsty.
I push the chair out from underneath me and walk to the bar area to ask for a glass of water, but nobody is paying attention to me. I am unable to make eye contact with anyone. Why can’t anyone see me?
I turn around and see him getting up to leave. He walks away from his half full glass of water and waves to the waitress who served him.
Why didn’t he call me?
I walk with quick steps to catch up to him. He walks with his hands behind his back.
Strange, I thought, He hasn’t done that in a long time.
He walks into a comic store, his favorite one. The front door is littered with posters and flyers. There is a gaming tournament this Thursday here at the store. Maybe he’d like to join. I try and grab his attention to turn it towards the poster but he isn’t here. I hear the bell of the front door jingle and I see him walking in.
I lower my hand down and follow suit. The door stayed open due to a strong gust of wind that blew this way. I walked in with a bell do give away my arrival.
I walk over to him and try and place my head on his shoulder, but he moves before I can place it causing me to stumble over. His eyes avoid mine and I can’t help but sigh in boredom.  He picks up a comic and flips through it. I turn around and begin to look across the street out the window at the ice cream shop.
They had 20 flavors, and even more ice pops to choose from. I was about to turn around to tell him about it, but instead I see him walking across the street. He walked out without me again! I stomp my feet on the way out and catch the door behind someone else walking out.
“Can I get the melon ice pop please?” I hear his voice echo through the shop. We’re the only ones in here.
A mango one too please.
“Is that it?” the old voice squeaks.
“Yes, how much will it be?”
I can’t believe this, how could he get an ice pop and not get me my favorite flavor?
He throws a five dollar bill out and says, “Keep the change.” Walking away he breaks the ice pop open and goes to the plastic table we always sit at set up outside the shop.
I sit in my seat, and him in his. I liked this seat because I can’t stand being hot, and his body blocked the sun from me. He loved that spot because he loved being hot, and he wanted to protect me from the things I hated the most.
His hand pushes the dessert into his mouth. I sit there staring at him, my face sitting in my hands. He takes it out of his mouth and holds it to me. I raise out of my hands and smile.
Are you finally going to acknowledge me?
He reaches out, but is quick to bring it back to him, shoving it back in his mouth.
It’s ok, I don’t like melon flavor anyways.
With a huff he stands up, throwing away the half eaten ice pop, but carries a plastic bag next to him. I never got to see what was inside of it.
He begins walking west, that the way home. His steps are quick, his legs are too long, I struggle to keep up. I reach out to touch him when suddenly he turns around to face me. I hear a buzzing noise and he reaches into his pocket to pull out his phone.
“Hello?”

I stand in front of him, staring at his face.
“Oh, I forgot. I’ll be right over.”
He taps his phone once more and sighs. He turns north and begins to run that way.
Wait!
I follow him to a bar. Our friends are there.
I’m really not dressed for this, can we go home?
“There he is!” one of the friends yelled out. “It’s about time you showed up!”
I walk up the stairs to the loft area they were all hanging out in. My hands grab on my cotton white sundress as I stare at the women he is sitting by.
“Can we get you something to drink?” one of the women asked.
“Water will be fine.”
“Oh come on, lighten up!” she yells.
“No thanks, like I said before water is fine.” this time his voice was steadier.
Her shoulders immediately slumped over and walked to go grab him a glass of water. The other friends are mumbling to themselves, I can’t hear them though.
I see an empty wooden chair next to the couch he was sitting in. I try to tip toe my way to the seat. I finally sit down and flatten my dress out underneath me and look up to be found with a set of eyes staring at mine. This man is smiling. Is he smiling at me?
Can you see me? My hands reach out and he smiles and nods.
“Hey, what are you doing over there?” a voice cries out.
The man’s face breaks into a frown and turns back to the couch with everyone on it.
“What did we tell you about going over there, you know how he gets about that area.”
Who get what about this area?
I turn to his face, the one I’ve been following around all day. He stares at the chair, but never at me.
“I could have sworn I saw her.” the man said slurring each word.
His face that was turned towards me now turned away and to the ground in front of him.
“I should really go.” he said. He pushed out of the chair and jogged down the stairs. I jumped up and looked behind me to look at the friends reactions. They all collectively sighed. reached over to slap the man in the head.
I ran down the stairs after him, but I couldn’t find him.
Wait! Wait for me!
All I could do was scream to an empty street full of wet pavement and flickering street lights. I tried to listen for an echo of my voice, but I couldn’t even find that. My legs keep pushing me forwards, but who knows if he’s even straight ahead?
Where are you?
My breaths are getting shorter and my legs are beginning to burn. I’m coming up on a railroad crossing. I can see him, I see his outline, but he’s on the other side.
Before I can cross, the guard rail comes down. The flashing yellow lights hurt my eyes. The ringing of the bell alerting everyone around that there is going to be a train incoming.
James! James please!
I yell out his name. I haven’t had the courage to say it aloud. The situation is dire.
James slowly stops. Turning on his heels to face me, I see something shiny on his face. A sniffle comes from his direction.
The train is nearing, I can hear it getting louder and louder. His shoulders slump as he rummages in his bag to find something. He pulls out a mango icepop. He cracks it in half and reaches his arm out to me.
Please don’t forget me.
I see the melted liquid drip from his hands.
“I”ll never forget you.” His voice falters. James moves closer towards me despite the ringing of the bells to drive him away.
Don’t let me hold you back. Move on.
“Take the ice pop from me, tell me you’re real!” he screamed. The train was inches away from us.
“Don’t forget about me.” he said
The train ran right through our paths to each other. I can see him through the openings on the train. It all seems as if this is in slow motion.
  The train finished moving. It went on its way away from us.
Away from me.
All that was left was a puddle of mango syrup and a slowly fading me.

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