FLEETING MOMENTS

Jayia Matree

I often saw him the library, hunched over his laptop and looking annoyed at whatever he was working on. One day, I was sorting through the fiction section of the bookshelves and observed him leaving for the evening, leaving behind his deep purple reusable water bottle.
           I abandoned my sorting and snatched it up.
            ‘Sir!’ I yelped.
            His foot just passed the doorframe before he turned around with a surprised face. His eyes noticing what was in my hand.
            ‘Goodness, thank you so much!’ He grinned gratefully and grabbed the bottle from my shaking hands.
            Unable to blurt out the words stuck in my throat, he gave a curt nod and left.
            After that encounter, he would often forsake one of his belongings, leaving me the duty of picking them up and returning them. My co-workers noticed, giggled about a crush like it was high school all over again.
            This continued for two weeks until, one rainy evening, he left in a hurry, shoving papers into his bag and leaving one behind. My body moved automatically.
            It was dark outside as I hurried through the front doors.
            ‘Sir! You forgot something!’ I yelled, my voice echoing down the silent streets, yet he couldn’t hear me.
            I chased after him down the side road and into an alleyway. It was dark but I could tell he stopped.
            He turned but didn’t say the usual ‘thanks’.
Someone behind me did. ‘Thank you so much.’
            I didn’t have time to scream.