Smiley Miley

A simple smile, that’s all it took…

For a few months I walked by the same stores, in the same ordinary buildings at the busiest of times. Each person living the same typical day over and over again.

Must be boring, don’t you think?

But then about a two months ago something extraordinary happened. I walked past the optometrist’s. And as I walked past, there was a dazzling smile from a stunning girl. Not a scene commonly found in those ordinary buildings.

For the next three weeks it continued. Every time I’d walk by, there was a smile. From the same stunning girl. Then the smiles transformed to smiles, waves and silent hello’s.

But then one day I was so overwhelmed at work and needed an escape. An escape to an imaginary planet. I guess that’s why I went to Starbucks with only pen and paper that day. No leather laptop bag, no distractions.

But for me to escape reality music is a necessity. It was just my luck. When I got to Starbucks I realised I had forgotten my headphones in the car. I quickly ran to get them.

I had already walked passed the optometrist once on my way to Starbucks. Needless to say she smiled. But then I passed a second time. This time it was a smile and a wave.

As I sat at Starbucks I kept thinking about this incident. It’s amazing how one person’s smile can turn your frown upside down. It had made my day, and as I always do, I had to thank that girl.

I put my pen to work and wrote a small thank you note. A note stating the obvious:

Dear …

I wish I already knew your name, but hopefully now I would.

Thank you for smiling at me when I needed it most. You absolutely made my day and I just wanted to thank you for it.

Regards

Heinrich

I had remembered I still had a vintage envelope in my jean’s pocket. Which was fortunate, because it meant I had something to put the note in.

Nervously I walked to her. I handed her the envelope and for a brief moment there was plenty confusion. She looked puzzled. A stranger handing her a vintage letter. That couldn’t have made sense.

But then I explained that everything would make sense if she read the letter and when asked when she should open it I simply replied: “Whenever you feel like it.”

She told me to have a seat as she introduced herself as Miley. She said that she’d read it immediately. My heart rate spiked and it felt as if my heart was soon going to explode through my ribcage.

As she read it, the power went down. There we sat, in the dark, but she kept on reading. She smiled and thanked me for the letter. She asked if I’d like to stay and talk to her for a while. I had no-one to see, nowhere to be and nothing to do. I couldn’t see why that could be a problem at all.

We talked and we talked and we talked. Before we knew it an hour and a half had passed and it was time to return home. It continues to amaze me how my life changed from that day onwards. I realised how much it meant to be kind.

It wasn’t two days later that I walked passed the store again. This time to find her jumping from her chair when she saw me. Never had anyone been that excited to see me!

What happened next brought me to tears. Miley had written me a letter. I couldn’t believe it to be honest. It was the sweetest thing ever.

Miley and I had developed a great friendship, and as I walked by the store almost everyday we got to see each other rather often.

That was only until a few weeks later when Miley got an offer to fulfil her dream job and become an interior designer for the Red Leather Company. The only problem was that the Company was based in Florence, Italy.

It was a no brainer she had to take the job. Who would say no to traveling and designing for a world renowned company? And I knew her well enough to know she wanted a new start. This was going to be it!

Anyway, Miley and I are still great friends, and phone one another weekly.

Till next time guys!