Grandpa Paco says that true love like what my parents had is rare, and that his own six marriages and subsequent divorces are proof of this. He also says that all the stars in the sky were aligned for my parents, and even though it might seem like I can't say the same for Mr. Mine and me—-
This can't be the end, self.
It can't be.
God wouldn't let me meet Mr. Mine if he's not my destiny, and I refuse to believe anything else.
There has to be something here to give me hope, just something or anything—-
Aha!
Is that Mr. Mine's book I'm seeing?
Could he have left it deliberately, maybe with his name or number or Instagram handle or whatever it is he wants me to use to contact him?
I trip over my own feet in my haste to get to my table, and the guy standing behind the cash registrar looks at me like I've lost my mind when I reach for the book like it's the Holy Grail.
But rather...it's just a leather-bound copy of The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
Okaaaay.
Is this supposed to be a subliminal message for something? Am I suppose to infer that winning Mr. Mine's heart is a far more serious battle? Or is this the universe's way of telling me the stars are anything but aligned for me and Mr. Mine?
No matter.
I can always realign them myself, and with this persevering thought in mind, I flip the book open, and a boldly scrawled message on the title page immediately catches my eye.
Try not to be wet the next time I see you.