Savannah, North Carolina

"Smile," he chimes as his finger hovers above the button, twitching ever so slightly, ready to release any second now.
I am an outsider looking in. A fly on the wall. A keen observer who has happened to be in the right place at the right time.
It's senior picture day and the bearded photographer has been charged with the grave task of capturing these students in the height of their mortal peak. They are ready to face the future, blinking blurry eyes into the bright light, lambs that scurry towards the door, not knowing if behind it lies salvation or the slaughterhouse.
"Got a girl?" He questions the spectacled senior, posing the graduation cap jauntily upon the student's orange head.
"Yeah," the kid grins, dipping his chin towards his shoulder bashfully. "Her name's Savannah."
"Like Savannah, Georgia?" He adjust his camera meticulously. I turn my head, paying them more attention than the book that lies idle in my hands.
"Yeah, but she lives in North Carolina. So Savannah in North Carolina." Snap. Snap. Two down, two seconds frozen, two pictures perfectly photographed.
"That's funny." Snap. Snap. "Engaged?"
"Yes sir. Wedding's gonna be July 18th."
"That so?" Snap. "Congratulations." Snap. "Say her name one more time? There's that smile!" Snap.
The senior laughs; practically glows from pride. Visions of Savannah, North Carolina dance behind his eyes.
"You're good to go," says the photographer. The senior hops off the bench, grabs his bags, makes his way into the world. Savannah means so much to him. He means the world to her. The photographer will forget them both by tomorrow, but they'll always be there, on his film. He, smiling at the camera, his grin big enough to split both cheeks. She, peeking out from his beaming eyes.
The stool the orange-haired kid perched upon just a few seconds ago lies empty, awaiting its next victim-- someone else that will tell it a story, snap snap, and then quietly move on.
The photographer adjusts his camera.
"Next!"