The sweetest thing passed me three days ago.  It was not a child helping a little old lady cross the street or a hundred dollars lying on the sidewalk for me, those sights could only dream of being that sweet.  This sight was so sweet in fact, that I would have to put it down as one of those moments of epiphany when mankind gains as a whole by listening to the experience of just one person.

            Though, I may just be over-hyping it.  Sometimes I do that, and I will glimpse back later to what I was talking about and become baffled at what I praised and for why.

            Life can be futile like that.  Usually, I'm glad it is.

 

            Terry Roadshaw walked down the sidewalk on main street.  More to the point, he strutted down the paved path; content with his own life.  During times like this, he realized his move to the city was far more rewarding than he had ever hoped.

            Roadshaw, as part of his afternoon routine, walked to the local coffee shop several blocks from his apartment.  His roommate was unable to come today, so he traveled alone.

            On route to the coffee shop, something caught his eye, like a nickel in his apartment's hallway.  Ahead of him a couple walked, holding hands.  Although there were many couples around, this couple stood out.  They were not talking to each other or on a cell phone.  They just smiled; content to hold each other's hand.

            As quickly as they had entered Roadshaw’s view, the couple walked contently out of sight down a perpendicular sidewalk.

            Roadshaw momentary trance faded and noticed he had stopped walking.  He also noticed the peculiar smile that had plastered his face.  A warm feeling grew in his heart and curiously tugged at his mind.

            "I wonder..."

            Roadshaw was curious where those two were going, what they had planned to do, and how they continued being that happy with each other.  Their serenity beckoned, no, mocked other couples, and with such proud steps, Roadshaw could not resist.

            Hustling, Roadshaw darted up the street and peered around the corner of the convenient store.  The couple continued to walk a block ahead and Roadshaw quickly ran in pursuit.

            “What is their secret?”  Roadshaw thought, quickening his walking pace.  “What do they do in a day that allows them to be so peaceful with each other’s existence?  My girlfriend always has a tack in her shoe whenever she’s around me, but these two seem to never have a fight.”

            Roadshaw dodged between two people walking the opposite direction and the couple dropped out of view.  Roadshaw continued to walk fast as he scanned the other side of the street.  The couple had not crossed the street, so logically they must have entered one of the street side stores.

            Waiting for the walk signal was inconvenient, but certainly necessary.  Many cars raced past Roadshaw as he bounced slightly in place.  He attempted to predict the lights to give himself an estimate on when he would be able to cross the street.  He estimated he was waiting too long.  However, no breaks in the traffic would allow him to bolt to the other side of the street.  He did not want to miss any sign as to how the couple lived and certainly did not want to lose track of them.  The couple had not reappeared on the sidewalk.  They must still be within a store.  So, bouncing in place, Roadshaw planned out how to check each store so he could observe the couple.

            When the streetlight turned green and the little white man appeared in the walk box Roadshaw jogged across the road.  After crossing the road, he peered into each restaurant.  A couple of restaurants later, he spotted the couple in a nearly vacant pizza joint.  He entered the pizzeria and asked politely for a table of one.  He received a table close enough to the couple that he did not ask to be moved.  Plus, the empty restaurant allowed any conversation to be heard.  Observation would not be obscured.

            Roadshaw watched the couple inconspicuously for the duration of their meal.  As the couple placed their payment down upon the table, Roadshaw decided he would need not to follow them further.  They left the restaurant holding hands, leaving Roadshaw alone with spaghetti he had ordered.  He was dumbfounded by what he had observed.  Confusion had settled in.  Did he learn anything from watching them?  Or if he did learn something, was he able to take the advice?

            The couple had small talked about school, work, and family life, but neither of them had completely meant anything they had said.  After every sentence a chuckle would spring forth from the person who had just spoke.  Not a single sentence did not have a chuckle, and thus not one sentence could be taken seriously by Roadshaw.  The way they talked seemed as though life apart was not real.  Things happened to them individually, but it did not affect them as a whole, as if life was merely some hobby they were explaining to the other.  When together, half of the couple made sure the other half approved and neither fought for the power in the relationship.

            Roadshaw chuckled.  It was indeed a relationship, not a governing partnership.  Or were they kidding around and just flirting with each other?  As if they conversation was a nudge in the side saying, “Hey, I like you a lot, so here’s some ridiculous excess of power over menial decisions.”

            Roadshaw wrestled with these opposing forces.  He could not come up with an answer to what he saw.  He weighed the benefits.  To live as though life was not influential to yourself was not really living, but if it gained such bliss maybe that is how it should be done.

            Roadshaw decided that living life like that was not for him.  That philosophy would not make him happy.  What made him happy was to see a couple like that walking down the street, holding hands.  That made his heart warm.  It was a sweet sight and Roadshaw killed some time following them.  Life to him was a series of positive occurrences and today was a highlight moment.

            He did not know the answer in removing that tack from his girlfriend’s foot.  He did not know if it will ever be removed or if she would be going her separate way a month from now.  He was certain of one thing, though.  Pure happiness lies somewhere out in the world and it needs to be reached for.  It may be closer than anyone thinks.