I staggered through the streets as I tried to keep an even pace. Another early evening run that was no easier than the first ten. No one paid attention to me, just another man trying to hold back the ravages of time with some exercise.
I had pretty much decided that the effort was not worth the trouble until that fateful day I saw her at the window. A woman talking on the phone brought my already slow pace to standstill. I stared at her like a puppy in kennel looks at a boy.
She turned and saw me. I blushed at being discovered while staring and pretended to stretch a painful limb. I became concerned because she looked at me long enough to be able to describe me to police if she so chose.
Trying not to panic I apparently did the right thing. I smiled at her and shook my head in seeming disgust at the idiocy of jogging in the night and ran off at a leisurely pace.
I actually ran the last two blocks to my home. After a quick shower I grabbed a beer and sat to watch TV. Concentrating on the shows was impossible. I could not get the woman at the window out of my mind. I realized that I had not even noticed if she was beautiful, cute, or plain. Yet all I needed to do was close my eyes and I could see her clearly.
The next evening brought something new to me, an eagerness to hit the streets. I told myself that I had just gone over the hump and that my exercise was paying off. Deep in my brain I knew that I just wanted to catch another glimpse of her.
I slowed as I approached the window. She was not there. I slowed to a walk. I moved as slowly as possible without faking an injury. I thought I glimpsed movement at the window but a quick glance showed it to be empty. Disappointed by her absence I walked the rest of the way home.
The next day my will power was tested as I forced myself to get ready for the run. I decided I hated running. Yet somehow all the health and conditioning arguments won out. They were aided, perhaps, by the faint hope that I would see her again.
By the time I approached her walk the fact that I had never run three days in a row had become painfully evident. I was dragging, hands on hips, out of breath, feet and back in pain.
This evening I was not sure I wanted her by the window. I was not in the most flattering condition. She was there of course.
When she saw me she gave me a small smile and a shake of the head as if to say, “you are nuts”. She left the window before I could nod in agreement.
My body was telling me she was right. But my heart had a second picture of her and knew I would continue. Her smile could light up the sky. She was beautiful.
Running past her window became the highlight of my day. I ran everyday. She was accomplishing more than any amount of will power or trainer could have. I began to make physical progress. Running became easier.
I had done some snooping and found out that her name was Debby. She was a teacher and much to my delight, single.
I would see her at the window only two or three times a week. Sometimes she would appear to take notice of my passing but most of the time she would not.
My heart was telling me she knew when I was there. My mind disagreed.
About the fourth week of my regimen I found I had to leave my home a bit later at night. Work had piled up and my daydreams of her did not help get it done. This was serendipity. At this later hour Debby was often standing by the window talking on the phone.