The word 'coincidence' is insufficient to describe the myriad subtle shades of coincidence which occur on a very regular basis.
The online dictionary defines the word to be 'a striking occurrence of two or more events at the same time,' and I infer from this that the occurrence is striking because of its immediate impact.
What if it the coincidence fails to make an immediate impact, or conversely no impact whatsoever? Does it still qualify as one, even if we never think about it again?
If, for instance, you are buying some trousers from a shop, and you are about to approach the person who will process the transaction. At that precise moment you become aware of a love song playing over the shop's radio system.
This is a coincidence, but shop asssitant implies love song does not have any obvious meaning or sentiment. It is therefore an empty or dormant oone, as is passing a complete stranger in the street at the very moment you spot an aeroplane overhead.
Does the crossing of two lines on the graph of your existence become more significant when you become aware that the sales assistant is attractive? What metaphors then when the love song is absorbed into your half-awake brain?
If you walk out of the shop, instead of snappily demanding her mobile number, is the coincidence still an empty one? Or is the fact that the universe is appearing to flirt with your imagination enough to render it valid?
