One day no one will look at you anymore
Those hopeful, surreptitious  glances at the coffee shop
That brave young man's naive attempts to get your attention, little knowing that he's biting off more than he can chew
You won't feel their eyes watching you as you walk across the room
They won't offer to help with your bags or step aside for you at the escalator or staircase (if not for the sake of chivalry then at least so they can watch you climb the stairs)
They won't try to dance with you in the club
And no one will applaud as you leave, in pure appreciation of having watched you dance without an agenda
Some day you will need an agenda
You'll need a reason at all times
They will no longer entertain you just because
You'll be asked to justify your existence and to earn the privilege of their company
And you will shrink into yourself
You will retire from their blind gaze
Their unseeing eyes
They will not notice you
They will not care
It. will. hurt.
More than now
More than the overload of attention
Because one thing worse than too much attention whether positive or negative or just plain curiosity -
Is being ignored
And even worse - being invisible
Being aware that you take up more space than they think you deserve
And trying to shrink to fit into the social recycle bin that is reserved for 'unattractive', 'ordinary', and 'childless' women over forty
Just waiting it out until you find a cause or some miracle..worthy of becoming your legacy
A final shot at being remembered..