It was the winter of eighty three; I had stepped into the bus station to wait out the heavy snow that was covering the city and the biting wind that was slicing through my jacket. I strode towards just any old bench and positioned myself upon it. Naturally, my curiosity finally rose up so my eyes began to wander for something to sate it.

They met with the slender legs of a young woman, she waited upon a bench with her legs crossed over one another. I felt rude, but I couldn't stop myself from examining her. My eyes wandered up her tights and took in her shape. My eyes shifted to her round and soft featured face, her hair was the color of black coffee and her rested smoothly around her face. She was something else, that was for sure.

"Do you mind?" That sultry voice had caught my attention and now I was gazing into eyes as cold as the winter wind outside. They were terrifying. I remained frozen.

I swallowed and managed to speak up after what seemed like an eternity, "I-I apologize, ma’am."

She didn't seem pleased with my apology. To be fair it was rather weak and unconvincing. Her lips painted with vibrantly red lipstick curved downwards and her eyes shifted away from mine, "Your staring is making me rather uncomfortable."

I felt bad. Really. Could this woman blame me, though? She was captivating!

Her hair hung around her soft facial features, her lips seemed so soft and they appeared to be inviting me closer, her office jacket fit her top and her knee length skirt clung to her hips for dear life. I'm sorry for being so taken with her appearance. This was rather rude of me. I was not behaving as my usual gentlemanly self. I was doing my best to keep my eyes averted. Really! I was making an attempt, but I would continually still steal glances at the woman from my peripheral vision.

She was everything I could possibly want in a woman. My mind wandered to a nicer and kinder place than this winter tundra. This woman was there with me and we were making our way down an aisle clad in traditional wedding garments, her smile would come to wake me in the morning, there came moments of us with smaller versions of ourselves, there was laughter, she met me at the door with a particular softness, and there were beautiful moments of solitude with one another.

Rustling interrupted my fantasy. She was leaving! Her solid black heels were clicking against the tiles and her hand was reaching for a jacket. The love of my life was leaving before I even got her name!

"Miss!" I had stopped her for the moment. Those ice eyes were fixated on mine once more. "I-I'm really sorry about earlier-"

"It's fine." She had cut me off before I could even finish! The cold attitude did not suit such a beautiful and warm face. Her icy mannerisms sliced through my warm delusions of our future life together. She was turning to leave once more, but my hand reached out and clasped to her sleeve. She looked appalled at my actions, as she should, I suppose.

"Please humor me for a moment." I tried to smile at her, but it probably came off as rather creepy. I was really messing this up, "Just tell me your name?"

She didn't appear amused, "It's Ariel."

Like the mermaid. “How beautiful.”

She tore her sleeve from me and left without another word. I remained there in silence and listened to her heels as they scrapped against the floor.
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The sound of those five inch heels would shortly become the soundtrack of my life.

*Disclaimer: artwork not mine