The following weeks were consumed by thoughts of her. No matter how hard I tried to push her out of my mind, every time someone ordered a McFlurry, there she was again, an ever-present figure in my thoughts. Life started to feel hollow without her, yet the mere idea of her existence filled me with a strange kind of happiness. I mulled over ways to find her, to make our paths cross once more, but the realization dawned on me that the power to reconnect was entirely within her hands. After two months had passed, my hope began to waver. Perhaps her visit to our store had been a one-time occurrence, merely a fleeting presence in my life. Still, thoughts of her lingered, and her memory even haunted my dreams of that unforgettable encounter.
So, I continued with my routine, a life I believed was sufficient, albeit with a persistent sense that something vital was missing. Another month trickled by, and just as I was about to relinquish my hope, fate intervened. There she stood, alone this time, donning what I could only describe as a schoolgirl outfit. Her smile was radiant as she approached me. Despite being the only person present, her direct path towards me felt like a significant moment. I managed to gather my thoughts more swiftly this time, though my shyness seemed to intensify. I greeted her, my voice tinged with a nervous stutter, "Welcome, how may I help you?"
With playfulness in her voice, she responded, "Hi silly, don't you remember me? Same as always." Her claim caught me off guard; it was a stretch to label a one-time meeting as "always".
Flustered, I replied, "Sorry, yes, okay, coming right up," before turning around to prepare her strawberry McFlurry. This time, however, I completely forgot to register the order.
Handing her the dessert, I noticed her disappointment. "Where's yours, silly? Do you expect me to eat alone?" Apologizing once more, I turned around to create my own McFlurry. She instructed me to meet her outside when I was done. I opted for chocolate, because this is what I had to eat last time, despite my lack of enthusiasm for the flavor. I simply didn't want to make any mistakes. Once prepared, I ventured outside and found her in the same spot as our initial encounter. As our eyes met, she extended her hand, a clear signal for me to give her my McFlurry container. Handing it to her, I couldn't help but notice the smirk from our previous meeting. It seemed as though she had been collecting spit in her mouth the whole time she was waiting, given the significant amount she expelled into my container. Taking my spoon, she mixed it in, then handed it back to me. That same smirk lingered.
Without thinking, I said, "Thank you," and her smirk grew even brighter.
In her playful tone, she responded, "You're so welcome. Did you enjoy the last one I shared with you?"