The last time I saw my mother was 15 years ago. It was the last time anyone had seen her, since that was the day she died. Yet there she was standing before me. Of course, I could have been mistaken. I had been drinking quite a bit and didn’t have a clear view.
I focused my eyes and conjured up an image of her. The woman I was looking at had the same shape and hair as my mother. Even at a bad angle I could tell she was very beautiful, just like my mother. The only real difference was the fact that mom would be at least 40 years old now, and this woman couldn’t be much older than me.
She was laughing at something some guy said. Even after 15 years, I still remember her laugh. My mother was the only woman I have known with that carefree infectious laugh that was ringing through me ears now. I was sure. This woman was my mother.
It’s impossible. I had to have been much drunker than I thought. Still, I had to talk to her. I had to be sure.
I started towards her trying to think of something to say. I decided to ask if we knew each other. I know. It’s a terrible pickup line, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Did I mention how drunk I was?
I approached her and waited until she noticed me. She had a weird surprised look on her face, as if she didn’t know what to say. So I made the opening move, “Hi,” I shouted trying to make myself heard over the loud music and noisy chatter in the smoke filled bar.
She opened her mouth to reply, but closed it again, obviously not knowing what to say. I know how she felt. Usually I’m the one dumbfounded when meeting new people. When she began to speak again, something at the entrance grabbed her attention. I turned around to see what it was. There were several people on the dance floor, some guy looking around (obviously for his friends), others sitting around the tables chatting. Nothing was out of the ordinary, except for 2 girls dancing a little too close together, but that didn’t seem a likely candidate for her attention. Puzzled I asked, “See someone you know?”
“No,” she replied immediately pulling her gaze to me briefly then again to the entrance. “It’s nobody…I mean nothing. I have to go. It was nice meeting you.” With that she rushed towards the back of the bar.
“But we haven’t actually met,” I mumbled to myself, and then rushed after her. I know it wasn’t exactly an appropriate thing to do. Some drunk guy chasing after a girl in a bar, but I had to know who she was.
I was just a couple of steps behind her as she stepped out the back door, but when I reached it, she was several paces in front of me. She stood frozen staring down a man at the end of the ally. The man was dressed in a black leather jacket with a dirty white T-shirt, and dark blue jeans. I couldn’t really make his face out in the dark ally, but I could have sworn he was smiling at her.
“Hey, do you need help? Is he causing you trouble?” The words came out before I had time to consider what I might get myself involved in.
“It is kind of you to ask, but the thing is, I didn’t. Ask that is. So, I would appreciate you going back inside.”
“Do you know him? Will you be alright?”
“Yes, and yes. Now go back inside and have fun with your friends. I need to go talk to him about this thing. Don’t worry, I’ll be alright.”
I relented. I probably shouldn’t have, but she seemed confident, and the guy was freaking me out. I figured I could talk to her when she came back in.
“Congratulations on your graduation,” she called to me just before the door closed. That was the moment I knew she wasn’t my mother. There was something about her smile. Besides my mother was much taller.
I watched the door like a hawk, but she never came back in. When I went out to find her, the ally was empty, except for a police officer checking something out around the corner.
So that is the exciting thing that happened to me at my college graduation party last night. To this mysterious young lady, if you’re out there and read this please leave a comment. I would really like to get together and talk. If anyone else out there knows who this woman might be, please do the same.
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