You watch her from across the coffee shop. She is young, too young for you, should you suddenly realize you are not 22 anymore…

Photo in the window, flowers in a vase, coffee in a cup. 

A sunny morning, cloudy afternoon and stormy evening.

Watch the man and woman on the screen, forever young and full of life. Red roses passed from him to her, forever fresh and bright. Forever in celluloid.

You see her from across the coffee shop, kinda frail and looking worn and tired. She is young, but older than before. So are you but you are still living in a state of disbelief.

The photo in the window has faded, rose stems sag in the vase, petals have fallen onto the floor, a cup of cold forgotten coffee…

A movie on the screen, an “oldie” they say. See the man and woman on the screen dancing slowly, still young and alive. Not yet tossed into the void…watch them live forever, forever young in celluloid. 

A shovel of dirt, tears wiped and words spoken. A photo left by the window, a rose left on the gravestone…a life lived is never a life wasted.