Seven

A smile. A single, insignificant, godforsaken smile. A smile smiled with a full set of teeth, gnashed together cheekily with the tiniest hint of derision. Every day I see smiles, but somehow, this smile is different.

Fulfillment, pleasure, nerves, excitement, determination – this was none of those. Smiles can provide reassurance. Sometimes they offer acknowledgment. Often they express some gradient of joy, or some layer of happiness. But this smile didn’t quite fit. I can’t pinpoint precisely what it was. It’s borderline tormenting.

I can’t help but wonder, but speculate that there was some suggestion of knowing behind it. The slightest imitation of a change coming through. Can a smile do that – express knowledge and change? All it’s detailed, expressive brilliance shouting meaning to me that I fail to hear. An unsolved riddle vying for my attention all morning, all afternoon, all evening, all night.

You have my attention, damned smile! What have you to say?

There, there’s an element of insanity creeping in. An element of confusion, and an element reminiscent of a twelve-year-old’s qualms. And amidst all that there’s something masterful. An element of genius. Who would have thought a mere smile could trigger such obsession?

This entry was written on May 30, 2007 by Alice Albert. It is about/includes mentions of possibilities. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.