I wrote this while sitting at the airport in Atlanta last week.
I find myself sitting in Terminal E of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. From the looks of things, it is the international terminal.
I had a few hours before my flight so I decided to explore the airport. I casually walked through each terminal and then took the train to the next. A, B, C, D, and then E. It is here in Terminal E that I decided to get some food and possible a drink. The drink will wait a bit I think.
A Grand "Player" Piano sits near an open air bar in the Food Court. It is playing some sort of slow Jazz/Classical Blend Music.
Across from me is a group of 3 girls at a table. I cannot tell what nationality they are, as all three have different characteristics. One looks Swedish, one German, and one possible Armenian. One thing is for sure, they are not American.
And with that, they just ran off to catch a flight.
* Airport workers are eating and laughing next to me.
* A guy on a phone walks buy.
* Two Pilots sit down at the lunch counter next to me.
I look up and notice another girl sitting at the bar. She looks at me and smile. She reminds me of a girl from work. I look away.
* A Cop walks by.
* A guy who is obviously not handicap rolls by in a airport wheelchair doing a ‘wheelie’ down the terminal hallway.
* Two guys almost run into each other walking between two tables. One guy laughs and literally dances around the other guy. The both laugh and move on.
I look up at the girl at the bar again. She is drinking a fruity cocktail and looking directly at me. We lock eyes, and both of us kind of hesitate, but neither looks away. It is not the look of love, or of lust, but of recognition. She is looking at me intentely, it appears that she thinks she recognizes me. It is almost as if she is waiting for me to get up and say, "Hey, Remember me?"
But I do not know her. I do not get up. If I do know her, I do not remember her. Either way, I am still far from the bar to simply make acquatiance. I nod and look away.
*The Piano Stops Playing.
*The girls working in the Smoothie Shop are laughing very loudly.
*A women walks by poking her eye. I have no idea why. Faulty contacts perhaps?
I look up at the girl at the bar. Again. Now she is actively engaged in a conversation with the guy next to her. She is also focusing on different aspects of what is going on around her. I watch her as she watches the surrounding activity and realize she is doing the same thing I am. She looks from one person to the next, observing, watching, contemplating.
She starts to look towards me. I catch her eye and look away.
* A group of Ladies walks by talking about what a good time they are having. They exit Stage Right.
* A couple walks by hand in hand. They look Happy. He is probably 6'6" She is probably 5'2".
* A foodservice worker is changing the Trash.
Somewhat compelled by my own curiousity, I look up to the girl at the bar. She is staring at something in the terminal which is out of my view. Beautiful eyes she has. And a beautiful smile. And hair.
I find myself being attracted to this mostly random girl in the Airport. How weird. How normal. I look away.
* A woman who should not be wearing sweatpants is standing in front of me.
* Make that Two Women who should not be wearing sweatpants.
* I can here several languages spoken currently.
I look up again. The girl at the bar is looking at me, but obviously engaged in conversation with the guy at the bar.
I make a decision. I need to leave. Not because of time, or convienence, but because I need to.
I look up again. She once again looking at me. I get a chill down my back. I feel of rush of endorphins and adrenaline.
* A guy in a very expensive suit walks buy looks very focused on getting to his plane.
* Two guys stand in the food court looking confused.
* Somebody is basically yelling into their Nextel 'walkie-talkie'.
I have no choice but to pass by her on my way out. I will smile, nod, and perhaps wave. I will then continue on, and not look back.
I will ponder this moment for a few minutes. I will ponder her smile, her beauty, her eyes. I will ponder what could have been, had I said Hi. I will then let her fade into memory, as I have done so many time before.
