What you definitely recognize from 100% when you accidentally run into an ex after years

Unbeknownst to me, I was sitting in a coffee shop. With my children. Focused on the fruit snack and the pancake of my sons, I start chatting with a nice, pregnant woman. We chat, her child plays with mine. And then her husband joins us. He had gotten coffee. I glance to the left, because yes, many children to keep an eye on. Wait a minute. I know him from somewhere... Am I seeing this right? Is this... Really?

God, yes, I do know him indeed. I have to look three times, because yes, the time, it’s been over ten years. He has changed. But back then we were something. My ex, in the wild. Here in this coffee shop, among my little ones. There you stand. What do you recognize anyway when you run into an ex after all this time?

1. Is it awkward? Yes, a bit. And also not really. Because you both have happily moved on with your lives, so it’s fine.

2. Do you say goodbye to each other? Not necessary. A small nod or wave is enough. But you can also have a little chat, because it’s okay.

3. Yet you think about it again. How it once was. That is inevitable. He probably does too.

4. For a moment, you think about how your children would have looked.

5. Oh, nonsense. You are happy as you are now with the person you are with. But just peeking. Who has he ultimately settled down with? Is she pretty? Nice? Yes, actually. He did good. We wish him well.

6. Does he seriously live near you? Because you ran into him there. Please not, right?

7. A spontaneous ‘hi, how are you?’ every few years is perfectly fine, but not every week together in the playground or on the terrace.

8. It’s quite nice that one of my children is going to whine. I pack my things and leave. Thank God. We don’t need to chat over coffee for hours, right? Our time is over. Quickly to my own nice guy.