Strangers

Millions of small interactions are happening at any given moment in any given place. Like the beginning of a good romantic comedy. As some would call it fate, destiny, being at the exact right place at the right time. I personally am still pondering what I would like to call it. I've always considered myself a realist, rational, not necessarily a hopeless romantic either. So today I have decided to tell you a story. The story that changed my mind. 

It was a Thursday morning I had to be at work at 9. I work for a Non-profit whose main focus is generally really unimportant and quite a waste of time. So because of this I had to schedule my annual doctors appointment for 6:30 that morning. I was up at 5 in order to get myself together before catching a cab to travel to my doctors office. I vividly remember the feeling of the brisk San Francisco morning air. It was early fall but it must have been warm the days prior because I wore nothing more than a long sleeve blouse with a floral pattern and my favorite wide legged jeans.

 Looking back I do remember a cab in front of mine seemingly traveling to the same location as mine every time it would turn so would mine. I didn't really think anything of it because I knew I was going the right direction. But now I can't help but to think that it might not have been a coincidence

. Anyways I make my way into the tall skyscraper office building, check in at the front desk and provide the floor my doctor's office is on. Most office goers aren't at work yet so I am alone in the elevator. I didn’t have time to grab coffee, I was still half asleep next thing I knew I was on the 23rd floor.

 I open the door to the doctors office and step into the white waiting room, it has several rows of plain very stiff gray plastic chairs that look like they probably came from Ikea pretty typical and across the room from the door that I came in is another door and an opening in the wall with a desk behind it where you check in for your appointment. 

So I proceed to the desk and check in and fill out the required paperwork. 

I then pick a chair to sit in near the middle of the row that is against the wall and decide to just go on my phone rather than reading it was way too early for that anyways. There was only one other patient in the waiting room, an elderly lady sat in the corner, so I definitely didn't expect to wait long. But then about 5 minutes after I sat down the door opened and a tall figure walked into the room. They were extremely intriguing and captivating to me for some reason, no explanation being logical. Very traditionally attractive in a way that made me uneasy almost doubtful. They walked up to the desk checked in then started back towards me and out of all the open seats in the whole waiting room picked a seat one over from my left. I noticed something as they were walking towards me, they were carrying two coffees, odd I thought maybe they were waiting for someone. Not two minutes later I was being offered an oat milk latte with extra foam. Kind right? I could no longer smell the stiff scent of antiseptic but rather the scent of my exact coffee order. Looking back on it now I should have known better I shouldn't have been so naive. They didn't even introduce themselves, what was I thinking?

 I remember the voltage of electricity I felt, I was no longer tired or groggy, my senses were awake and hyper aware of the distance and stares this mystery person was giving me. Did I do something wrong? Was I supposed to reject the coffee? Should I even drink the coffee? What if it’s poisoned? Instead I ask the stranger “Can I help you?”. God I hope that came off the right way. In which they responded with “I’m sorry but I have had the strangest feeling that I’m being followed by you”. “You, followed by me?!?” I responded quite quickly, maybe too quickly. “If anything you are the stalker coming here after me and offering me my coffee order how can you even explain that?” To which they responded with “Two months ago you moved onto my floor and since then you have come to the espresso joint coffee shop where I work every day between 8 and 8:30 and ordered a oat milk latte with extra foam, your going to tell me you never once noticed me sitting in the corner taking my 30 minute break! Then on saturday all the way over in monterey when I am visiting my brother and surfing at the beach there you are painting. So no this is not a coincidence and after I saw your cab following me this morning I knew I had to get coffee and confront you! Now tell me who are you? Who hired you!?” They seemed quite exhausted and helpless. I almost felt bad. I wanted to give them a pat on the shoulder and say good job you did so much better than I ever expected but of course I didn’t. Instead I simply responded “Well Charlie if I told you I might have to kill you. Hahahaha. I’m sorry I’ve always wanted to use that line. But you will find out soon enough I promise this is all for your own good.”.

 Not one minute later a nurse walked through the door and called out “Charlie Hail we’re ready for you!” They got up and walked to the door without saying another word to me, only turning and locking eyes with me for a brief moment before entering the other hallway. I then proceeded to gather my things and walk right out of that office my work for the day was done.