The Window

I passed by my window just today
and as I gazed out I saw a woman.
I studied her face seemingly unnoticed
Her face was young but
without the bloom of youth.
Her eyes were glazed and unfocused,
as though she viewed some far off place.
One arm was upraised and her fingers
toyed with a lock of her hair.
Her other arm was wrapped tightly about her middle
as though holding her back or away from something.
Slowly a hint, just a trace, of a smile touched her lips
adding a light to her eyes that told of a love once felt.
I wondered at her memories...as I stood watching her
I felt within myself a spreading warmth in my chest
Recognizing it as the feeling of a love now lost.
How long had it been since I thought about that love?
Yet even as I posed the question...The feeling left me
I quickly looked again to the woman out my window
The smile was gone from her face
as if she had felt the loss of that feeling within me.
Slowly she turned to walk away never looking my way
Stepping back and turning to be on my way also, I noticed...
It was no window that caught my eye....but a mirror.