The Pink Peony

Swaying down the cobblestone street to the rhythm of the giggling children and the bubbly waiters, without a care in the world. The smell of fresh bruschetti and red wine fill her senses with her blonde curls bouncing against her back and the hum of the scooters driving past in a rush to get to the nearest opera. The boy across the street watches her carefully as she picks up a pale pink peony resembling her fair complexion, she smells the flower and hands the frail man a couple paper bills and admires the beautiful flower while the local boy admires her. She turns her head to meet his gaze and smiles gently his way and without blinking he watches her walk out of his sight hoping to come across her presence again soon, he looks down and continues to help the little girl by him brush off the old table cloth as dinner was about to be served. He couldn’t help but look down the street to see if he could see the elegant poised woman had seen earlier but was out of luck. She made her way to the ticket box of the touring ballet as she glided through the carousel doors. She had her head down watching her feet lead her to her seat in front of the red curtain covered stage. With one seat open next to her she waited with grace and watched the people around her find their seats with their long gowns and black suits, her long red dress stood out amongst the rest of the crowd although, she did not notice. She tucked a stray piece of hair away from her eyes and checked her red lipstick in her tiny compact mirror hidden in her clutch, she crossed her legs and folded her arms with ease when the cello belted out a beautiful beethoven suite she had heard many times before. The curtains swept open and right as the play began the man she saw earlier took the seat next to her and she smiled sweetly on the outside but was screaming with euphoric excitement on the inside. They sit quietly and watch in awe as the dancers leap across the stage to the classical music. The man next to her grabs her hand without looking at her and kisses it gently, she looks to her lap and smiles silently with butterflies in her stomach even after being married for twenty years every date feels like their first.