Three Days of Happiness

49
At the eighth dialtone, I gave up and pressed the end call button.
Wakana was a girl from college, younger than me. I’d planned to
invite her out to eat or something. And if things went well, I would
have wanted to spend the rest of my short life with her.
At this point, I felt a sudden welling of loneliness. The first change I
felt once the end of my life was made clear was an unfathomable
longing to be with another person. I had a violent urge to at least
talk to someone.
Wakana was the only person at college who showed me any
affection. I’d met her this spring, at that old bookstore, when she’d
only just entered the school.
Seeing Wakana poring through musty old books, I gave her a “move
it, lady” look. But it seemed to trigger one of those common
mistakes made when entering a new life - she thought “I don’t
remember this guy who’s giving me that stern look, but maybe we
met somewhere?”
“Um, excuse me... Have we met before?”, Wakana timidly asked.
“No,” I answered. “Never seen you until now.”
“Oh, I see... Sorry to bother you,” Wakana said, realizing her
mistake and awkwardly turning away. But then she smiled, as if
wanting to take a second try.
“So, essentially, we met in this bookstore?”
It was my turn to be a bother. “I think you’re right about that.”
“I think I’m right about that, too. That’s great,” said Wakana,
putting an old book back on the shelf.