Shopping The Personals: I Followed You Into Barnes & Noble...

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It's time again for Shopping The Personals, a recurring Racked feature wherein we comb through the retail-based Missed Connections listings on Craigslist.

The massive Barnes & Noble store in Union Square is a great place to while away an hour or two, as the multi-level bookstore, filled with reading of all sorts, is conveniently equipped with a Starbucks cafe and bathrooms. It's also, apparently, a fantastic place to stalk check out highly literate sorts:

1) Union Square: "This is a long shot, since this occurred about a week ago on Saturday. I didn't think it would be worth it posting here, and then in the end I decided to do it. I hope it's not too late. You were the Asian woman chatting and browsing at books near the front of the Barnes and Noble and wearing a red coat and denim pants. I would have liked to say hi to you, but you were kind of engrossed in a conversation with your friend. I thought you looked great and friendly. Care for a nice hot cup of tea or coffee with me one day? I was Asian, and you might have notice me. Hope this works!" [Listing]

2) Union Square: "You were studying. U have straight, long, brunette hair; were wearing beige sweater and brown pants, had white jacket. I was sitting at adjacent table, reading. I didn't want to disturb you, thought it would be inappropriate, but wish I had. Marc." [Listing]

3) Union Square: "You remind me of a love i once knew. Or are you her? Asian woman, dark jeans, black jacket, boots green or yellow...You passed directly in front of me in union square. I almost called out your name, or her name, but stopped at the last moment, not 100% certain that it was you. I followed you into Barnes & Noble, up the escalators to—was it the third floor? I stared at your profile as your escalator passed mine, and still I wasn't sure. Had your face changed subtly, your style of dress? But you still wore your hair up in the same way that you used to, still had that elegant way about you. I couldn't decide. And so I left, without approaching you. But later I came back, and searched every floor for you, not finding you, my heart torn between fear and regret. Wishing I had let my throat go when you passed, let your name fly to your ears on my voice. Afraid to approach you if i did find you again—how could I let you see me now, fat and unhealthy, no longer aglow with the beauty of my youth, when we were lovers? No, I told the disappointment in myself, I could not approach her even if she were still here, I couldn't let her see me like this. Better that you stopped yourself, better that she not still be here to tempt your burning desire to look in her eyes again, to hear her voice...But still I wonder—was it you?" [Listing]

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