To Coincidence

The question hangs in the air between us until it's interrupted by the arrival of a server with a drink from a guy across the bar. Sickly pink and garnished with something that's a vibrant green, the birthday girl smilingly sends back her thanks before sliding the drink across the table towards me.

"Thanks," I say, taking it in hand and lifting it, "To coincidence."

"To coincidence?" she shakes her head, but raises her glass and proposes something else, "How about to fate instead?"

That's not how it would have gone, of course. This is all only a fantasy and one that is in fact a one-in-a-million shot, but still...

Still I can't imagine myself, the old me, even drawing up the courage to cross the bar and introduce myself let alone gathering up the courage to actually bring up the fact that it's my birthday too. Not the person I was, not the meek and mild little man who was drifting so absently through life that he even forgot it was his birthday in the first place.

He wouldn't. But I wasn't him anymore.

The fact is that I've changed, undeniably. I've still got a ways to go but the idea of chatting with a stranger for even five minutes would have been anaethema to the old me, but the new me could actually consider doing it.

So things are different now. I'm different now. And I think that I've changed for the better.

"You look bored out of your mind," the voice says, a dull droll that's clearly got a sarcastic tone even though the sentiment is sincere.

I roll my eyes and look over at Blake, who barrels on without looking at me or realizing that I'm not bemused.

"Staring off into the distance. Stuck in your own little world. Don't you know that we're hearing about utterly interesting history about this town? It'll be on the final exam."

He flashes me a grin that freezes when he sees that I'm staring at him with eyes that contain no amusement whatsoever.

"Oh god, don't tell me you're offended too. First it's her highness over there with her fixation on photography and now you with... Oh fuck. You're getting a history degree, aren't you?"

That is also meant to be a joke, but still somehow I'm not laughing.

"Jesus christ you people need to fucking lighten up. This is still technically vacation, you know. Classes and having to actually do work doesn't start until next week. You could at least crack a grin."

"But why would I?" I ask slow and specific, turning away from him a moment later and back to looking at boy-Kim, "You're not funny enough to warrant a grin, Blake."

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