Alexander Jankiewicz

New Year’s Eve

I see her in the alcohol aisle as I do some shopping. She’s standing at the wine section. As I get closer, I can see her lips moving. Closer still, and I hear the babble of a young child’s voice. It’s only as I pass her that I notice a small kid sitting in the cart on her other side.

Starving, I decide to cruise the aisles one more time. I know I overbuy when I’m hungry, but I can’t resist making the rounds again just in case my appetite missed something good.

I end up going back to the alcohol aisle for some beer to go with the pizza I just got. The woman is still there. It looks like she’s now either reading the label on the bottle in her hand... or talking to it. I can’t tell. The boy is asleep.

between the lines
a chance to escape—
thoughts
remembered from younger days
to the tune of Auld Lang Syne