leafing through

I just had a sudden realization of something I witnessed about 2 or 3 months ago.

Riding home from work on the Metro, it was maybe 7PM or so on a Friday night I think, two young (20s) people hopped on board. They looked like they’d just gone shopping or out somewhere, there were a couple of bags. It didn’t appear as if they were a couple, maybe friends or acquaintances. They didn’t appear to sit very close or familiarly together. She appeared kinda’ FOBby or maybe they both did. They were talking and smiling, a bit distanced politeness or shyness and then his stop came and he waved good-bye to her and she waved bye. No hugs or kisses. Just a friendly wave. Then she kept waving and I couldn’t see if he was standing there waving back or what but she kept waving and re-waving and then as the train pulled away, she started frowning, then crying. I was staring, maybe slackjawed. Or not. But I kept wondering what that was about. Was one of them leaving for good? Going away on business? Long distance relationship in two different college towns? Did he give her an indian burn before stepping off the train while I wasn’t looking? And I have no idea why it even entered my brain this afternoon but I think I may have figured it out. I think she regretted not getting that pair of cute shoes when they’d gone shopping. Non-buyers remorse.