A moment of possibility.
A glance pregnant with potential.
The potential of recognition,
the realization of a familiarity.
Will those foreign glances liquify from the stiffness of simple courtesy
to the fluidity of shared recognition?
Will the cold, hard eyes turn to shining faces?
To shining smiles, smiles of genuine friendship?
Initial surprise, maybe, then streams of warm, animated words-
Currents of smiling greetings.
But no. No fluidity. No streams. No warmth, no recognition.
The stiffness remains.
Just the cold, common courtesy of strangers.
A smile of plastic and a nod.
It’s over.