Missed Kisses

She was slim and young. She walked sprightly on the street and her smooth black hair braided into a chic ponytail was flying in the wind, following her like a faithful kite. I have not seen her for a while and was delighted to espy that her gracious eyes still observed the shifting world with their old and charming curiosity. 'Melissa? ' I said. 'No. Melanie', she corrected me. I blushed. 'Anyhow, I still miss your kisses', I said. 'Do you? ' she said and gave me a reproachful look. We exchanged a few words and then we went on our way. A few days later I saw Melanie again. She was walking on a street with a man hand in hand. And then she disappeared from my life. Or so it seemed. Two or three years passed by and one day I noticed Melanie sitting alone in the corner of a coffee shop. She was leaning over a laptop. But it did not take long and as she looked away from the screen our eyes locked. She gave me a surprised and frugal glance wrapped in a cautious smile. I pulled a chair and sat next to her. We stared at each other in silence for a short while. 'Hello, Melanie', I said. 'How are you? ' She closed her laptop and put her coffee mug on the table. 'Do you still miss my kisses? ' she said.