i finally left my abyss of sadness about a week later, however the possibility of miles never coming back still plagued me. my mom was constantly on my back about being 'a strong, independent, black woman who doesn't need a man.'

and then i met this guy.

he was lingering around the record store i worked at. even standing in there, i couldn't help but think about miles and whether or not he was okay. as i shifted around the arctic monkeys records in his long sleeve button up that he'd left with me, i had to choke back images of miles when he stood in front of that train.

the stinging in my eyes had been happening a lot lately.

"hey, uh... do you by any chance know where i could find real friends?" someone asked, voice as cool as day, t-shirt that displayed a band i wasn't familiar with.

i briefly remembered the last place i'd seen it as i looked up at his disheveled blonde hair and weird skater vibe, "the blue shelf over by all time low."

he shuffled from foot to foot as i finished stacking the shelf i was on. and even though, i was aware of his presence, i didn't say anything, "thanks."

his stare stayed on me for another uncomfortable thirty seconds and eventually, i turned around and rolled my eyes, "anything else you need?"

he shrugged, he was too happy, "not really, i just wanted an excuse to talk to you."

"why?"

his dull blue eyes seemed to have lightened up as he gave me a barely-there smile that didn't reach his eyes, "i don't know, you work here so you must like good music, you seem chill, and you're pretty hot."

my eyebrows furrowed involuntarily as i moved down the isle, stacking here and there, skater boy following me, "uh... do i know you?"

"nope, georgia..." reading my name tag, he glanced back at me, "i'm travis. would it be too foreword of me to ask you to grab a bite with me later?"