The Grocery Aisle Kept Stretching Toward Maya

The Grocery Aisle Kept Stretching Toward Maya

I was at the grocery store after work, trying to find my usual cereal, but the aisle kept stretching. I ran into someone from my old office—Maya, except she also felt a bit like my neighbor across the hall. We both reached for the same box and our hands touched. I felt this sudden, embarrassing crush, like I was sixteen again. She asked if I wanted to grab coffee, and I said yes even though I was already late for dinner. We walked toward the checkout but the store mixed with my high school cafeteria. I kept losing my shopping list and my phone. She smiled like she knew I was flustered. I wanted to say something clever but only asked about the weather. When I woke up I still felt that pull, mixed with the usual leftover anxiety about being unprepared.