Up at register 1 it is 10 minutes to close
An elderly woman walks up to the counter
A cart filled with glass knick-knacks and used sentiment
I begin to wrap them up in the already irrelevant news of yesterday
She looks me in the eye and says faintly
“Please. Don’t hurry”
It’s been on my mind, helping me through everything
Hanging up, acting as a backdrop in every scene of my life
Reminding me to be delicate when it matters
Reminding me to be calm when all is in chaos
“Please. Don’t hurry”
She opens her gaudy, ancient wallet, taking out exactly $23.87
Her hands shake with the age of ninety years
She grabs her bags and begins walking out to the car
All I could hear, resonating in the back of my mind, were the same words
“Please. Don’t hurry”
I know now that I will be with a girl one day
The sun will reflect off of the water, being absorbed by her beautiful dark hair.
Her beautiful dark hair that will hang partially into her perfect face
nearly obscuring one of her radiant eyes that beg for my attention.
She will push the hair out of the way, leaning forward
I will kiss her softly in a moment of bliss in its purest form
In all of this excitement I will feel the backdrop fade into the foreground
“Please. Don’t hurry”
Ryan Fulgoni 