A True Smile

When my ex-boyfriend left I felt like a part of me was gone. I had convinced myself that I had also fallen out of love with him and like a teenager after a breakup I wrote him an email explaining all the reasons why I had fallen out of love with him first. Ha! I won that one right? Or maybe not since the moths to follow were a daily reminder of the heart I was holding on my right hand at all times. When I went to the groceries, the bank, work, you get the picture. Nobody noticed, I was graced by birth with a big smile and I planted on my face when I meant it but very often when I didn't. It got me through the day sometimes and it fooled some but not the most acute souls. Those saw my right hand and heart and noticed it wasn't the latest accessory of the season. Particularly kids I think. Ever had a toddler stare at you at a bank line? Oh, they see truth everywhere, they just can't verbalize it and grown-ups are too busy to pay attention. 

I was sporting my bleeding heart in a busy bank with a little kid next to me that could not take his eyes off it. He saw the heart and the dripping blood and he was not intimidated by it, probably because he was a munchkin warrior disguised like a cute little kid. He just kept on staring, the mother was oblivious so I decided to give him and evil eye to scare him away. He smiled; he was not fooling me, I turned my head to the other side and abruptly turn to him again, this time releasing my wrath. He replied with a sweet giggle. What a strange kid, I thought, he was not afraid of me? I looked away once more and turned to him fast, this time thinking, get ready for war little munchkin from faraway lands! He started to laugh out loud. 

I guess he noticed that even though I was not smiling my mouth was crooked. I do that when I'm holding in true smiles because my most sincere smile is so big I sometimes hold it afraid it will take over my entire face. With sealed lips I tried to keep it in, wiggling lips from side to side, up and down. Funny faces that only made my little contender laugh even harder pulling a true smile and laughter from my heart...My heart? I thought it was on my right hand, it was gone. Beating inside of me again. Heart was glad to be back home and all it took was a little love. Even if it came from a tiny munchkin from a faraway land.