Thursday October 29, 2009
Gare intermodale, Saint-Jerome

Two young people approached each other in the station. Too young to call man and woman, rather a boy and girl, maybe they were fourteen years old.

They walked quickly toward each other and fell into each other's arms. Fell is the right word, so effortless it was, like dropped objects falling in space, only it was horizontal.

They held each other in a silent embrace, motionless. There was no kiss, no words, not even a smile. Yet the hug was so close and comfortable, it was if they were molded to each other, as if each knew the body of the other as well as his and her own.

After a few seconds they broke the embrace. No broke is not the right word, for it was as effortless as the falling together. Still no words between them, he walked away a few steps, leaned against a pillar or something, facing away from her, his expression so unconcerned that he might have been bored.

She'd taken a few steps too, in the opposite direction. Also facing away from him, she stopped to hesitate, watching a spot in the air with a regard both lost and attentive, as if trying to remember something important but just a little, like what time her bus would be leaving.

Then she remembered or made a decision, and left the station by the rear entrance, where the taxis wait, without looking back.