The first time I saw her, I was 5. She was sitting on the swing, perhaps enjoying the scenery. Needless to say, she piqued my curiosity. All I could remember about her that day was a detail on her dress. Weird, but cool at the same time - her Polka-Dotted Button. It was on a bracelet that she wore. I didn't know what it meant.
The second time I saw her, I was 13. That was the first time I saw her face - breathtaking. I knew that I had to at least say hi. Before I could approach her, her button caught my eye: the Polka-Dotted Button on her bracelet. By the time I could regain my composure, she was getting ready to leave. Now that I think back, I don't even remember where we were - we could've been in a crowd for all I remember.
I was 22 the third time we encountered and I noticed it: Her smile. She smiled at me, with that look. That look. You know, the kind that an old friend gives you when they see you after a really long time? And of course, I saw her polka-dotted button too. This time, I knew better, so I just walked up to her, wanting to say 'hello' but before I could reach her, the station doors opened and she disappeared. I remember now, this took place on a train.
So mysterious. That was my thought shortly before our fourth meeting. The more times I encountered her presence, the more I remembered details about her: The polka-dotted button, her face, her smile.
The fourth time I saw her, we exchanged glances. I was 34. She looked happy. I was walking my daughter to school when the polka-dotted button bracelet caught my eye. Then, I found her eyes. I couldn't help but feel happy all year long after that. I would've said hello but the thought didn't register in my head - perhaps it didn't need to, because it knew what was coming next…
This was the fifth time. I remembered this time to go up to her, to say hello, to introduce myself. I was 50. She was sitting on a bench, calm and collected. She was feeding some pretty little birds. Funny feeling I got, the closer I got to her. At first, all I wanted to say was 'hello, I don't believe we've met.' but with each step forward, the words that I wanted to say fell away from my thought, one by one. Instead, it was replaced by a warm, comforting feeling. And a huge smile. This was it.
She looked up at me just as I was about 5 feet from her, like she was expecting me - and she was. Automatically, I hugged her and whispered the words 'thank you.' She then held me with her arms extended and with a look that said 'Oh look how much you've grown!', spoke in the sweetest voice possible 'No need, that's what I do.' Then, she proceeded to walk away, slowly. After her fifth step, she turned to me and extended her hand towards me - and I saw her polka-dotted button bracelet. 'Shall we?' I took her hand, trusting her completely. I didn't need to ask where we were going, I knew where we were going. It was somewhere happy.
After all, where else would your guardian angel take you?
So off we walked, into eternity. 'So, tell me about that button of yours.' I asked, a question, after 45 years that I had always meant to ask from the start.
The second time I saw her, I was 13. That was the first time I saw her face - breathtaking. I knew that I had to at least say hi. Before I could approach her, her button caught my eye: the Polka-Dotted Button on her bracelet. By the time I could regain my composure, she was getting ready to leave. Now that I think back, I don't even remember where we were - we could've been in a crowd for all I remember.
I was 22 the third time we encountered and I noticed it: Her smile. She smiled at me, with that look. That look. You know, the kind that an old friend gives you when they see you after a really long time? And of course, I saw her polka-dotted button too. This time, I knew better, so I just walked up to her, wanting to say 'hello' but before I could reach her, the station doors opened and she disappeared. I remember now, this took place on a train.
So mysterious. That was my thought shortly before our fourth meeting. The more times I encountered her presence, the more I remembered details about her: The polka-dotted button, her face, her smile.
The fourth time I saw her, we exchanged glances. I was 34. She looked happy. I was walking my daughter to school when the polka-dotted button bracelet caught my eye. Then, I found her eyes. I couldn't help but feel happy all year long after that. I would've said hello but the thought didn't register in my head - perhaps it didn't need to, because it knew what was coming next…
This was the fifth time. I remembered this time to go up to her, to say hello, to introduce myself. I was 50. She was sitting on a bench, calm and collected. She was feeding some pretty little birds. Funny feeling I got, the closer I got to her. At first, all I wanted to say was 'hello, I don't believe we've met.' but with each step forward, the words that I wanted to say fell away from my thought, one by one. Instead, it was replaced by a warm, comforting feeling. And a huge smile. This was it.
She looked up at me just as I was about 5 feet from her, like she was expecting me - and she was. Automatically, I hugged her and whispered the words 'thank you.' She then held me with her arms extended and with a look that said 'Oh look how much you've grown!', spoke in the sweetest voice possible 'No need, that's what I do.' Then, she proceeded to walk away, slowly. After her fifth step, she turned to me and extended her hand towards me - and I saw her polka-dotted button bracelet. 'Shall we?' I took her hand, trusting her completely. I didn't need to ask where we were going, I knew where we were going. It was somewhere happy.
After all, where else would your guardian angel take you?
So off we walked, into eternity. 'So, tell me about that button of yours.' I asked, a question, after 45 years that I had always meant to ask from the start.