The Stranger with Jaded eyes

I remember the day his eyes came across mine, of course it was that of a mere glance, but still enough to consume my mind. I recall looking through his basket that sat just over his forearm. Pasta, ground meat and meat sauce. It was obvious his choice of food for the night was spaghetti, but suddenly I found myself in a daze of not so much what he was making but rather with whom. Was he alone making dinner? Or was it for him and another or perhaps even a family? Then again, the quantity in his basket proved it would more likely be one of the first two.

He neared me as I attempted to take my eyes away and that was the moment he turned to me with a swift smile. It was at that moment that I literally could’ve dropped the entire jar of bolognaise sauce on the tiled white market floor.

“Excuse me” he said and I stuttered, hesitant to respond.

I could feel the seconds pass in my lack of speech as he stood in stare and decided to step back, nodding along like an idiot.

He looks to me once more and with a slight smirk said “Good thing it’s just me eating.” 

As he took the container of parmesan cheese and walked off. 

I turned my eyes to follow as the stranger with jaded eyes exited, my thoughts gathered and in a breath I whispered… “He’s alone like me”