To "M" at Caffe Umbria

Portland OR

Description

You sat at the table next to me in the corner, and started asking about the work I had with me. You had a kind face, and somewhat tousled brown hair that stood up on one side like maybe you hadn't combed it that morning. We got to talking and you told me about the cities you've been to and about living abroad for school. We laughed about apartment sizes, inner lip tattoos, and shopping malls in Saudi Arabia. We talked about Portland some, too. You couldn't have known it, but that day happened to be my birthday. I was feeling a bit down and lonely, but talking with you made it brighter. You seem like the kind of guy to try out different coffee shops instead of having a regular, but whenever I'm at Umbria now I can't help hoping a little that you'll come in and sit at the empty table next to me again. And then maybe we could be friends. I was stupidly shy then, and it's been a few weeks, but on the off chance that you see this...