Instructions of Life

The stranger seemed perfectly content watching the rain. No phone. No book. No impatient sighs. Just the rain. It was strange because most adults always seemed busy.

Eventually, the woman nodded toward the novel in Aoi's lap. "I've seen that cover before."

Aoi looked down. "The Little Prince."

The woman's smile widened. "A classic."

Aoi immediately became suspicious. "You've read it?"

"I have."

"Most people haven't."

"Most people are missing out."

Aoi blinked. That wasn't the answer she expected. The woman pointed toward the book. "So what part do you like?"

Aoi hesitated. Nobody usually asked that. "The fox."

"The fox?"

Aoi nodded. "The part where he says people become important because of the time you spend with them."

The woman was quiet for a moment. "That's my favorite part too."

Aoi looked at her. For some reason, that answer made her happy. She couldn't explain why.

The woman leaned back against the bench. “You have a pretty smile.” The woman pointed directly at her and Aoi immediately looked away. The woman seemed far too pleased with herself.

The rain softened outside. Neither of them spoke for a while. Then the woman asked, "Do you ever feel like everyone else got instructions for life except you?"

Aoi froze. The question hit harder than it should have. Slowly, she lowered the book. "...What?"

The woman shrugged. "Just wondering."

Aoi stared. That wasn't a normal question. Not one adults usually asked. The stranger looked away, watching the rain run down the glass of the bus stop. For the first time, she looked uncertain as though she already knew the answer. Aoi tightened her grip on the book then, before she could stop herself, she answered.

"All the time."

The woman smiled. A sad smile. The kind that carried a memory behind it. For some reason, seeing it made Aoi's chest ache but she still didn't know why.