I recline in one of the big comfy chairs in the corner at the local Internet café, reading a novel, immersed in conflict, challenge, adventure. She curls up in the other chair, across from mine, her feet tucked under her legs, and stares out the window. The sight pulls me from my book.
Quiet, pretty, young, she rarely smiles, even when serving customers their coffee and muffins. Each morning, I make it a point to grin long and broad, with “please” and “thanks.” But in return I rarely receive more than a rote, “Café Americano, two sixty-five.”
Then, at about 10 o’clock, she takes a break, to sit and stare. The sun peeks around the edge of a cloud overhead, now gleaming through her tender blue eyes and warming her luxurious, dark hair. Her face softens, and my heart melts, and I wonder what she thinks about.
At that moment, she raises her hand to her chin, and the sleeve of her black uniform slides down enough to reveal pieces of blue and red scribbled into her arm.
“What’s your tattoo?” I ask.
I myself have never mustered the will and courage to subject myself to the tattooist’s needle.
A frown etches its way across her face. “Nothing,” she mutters, her eyes still transfixed on the outside scene.
I shrug my eyebrows, as if to shrug off the hurt I feel. I return to the joyful fantasy of my book– Or rather, I am just about to return to it, when the girl silently unbuttons her sleeve, rolls it up, holds out her wrist, revealing a half a butterfly, its intricate wings painted in dazzling blue. The half-butterfly sits on the stem of a rose blossom, deep green and red.
“Wow,” I say. “That’s really beautiful.” Then, “Why only half a butterfly?”
“The other half– flew away,” she says, returns to her window view, her frown now more pronounced than ever.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“Not your fault,” she mumbles.
I try pull my eyes from hers. And fail.
I imagine her smiling, laughing, bonding with friends, close to her loved ones. Her desolate sadness stabs through my gut.
I could argue with her. True, it’s not my fault that her best friend died, or moved away, or whatever happened. But I can still feel sorry. I’m allowed to feel sorry, not just with pity, but out of human kindness. In some societies, the community would rally around, sit, mourn with her. How can I sit here next to her and feel nothing? Or worse, feel only discomfort and dread, wanting only to escape from her presence, back into the safety of my novel.
But arguing with would accomplish nothing.
She sees me staring, I’m sure. If I were she, if our positions were reversed, I’d notice her staring. I’d wonder what kind of kook she was. I’d worry what kind of mess I’d gotten myself into.
“I hope,” I squeak– I swallow. “I hope that you can hang out with some friends after your shift, at least.”
She grunts.
“I wish there were something I could do,” I admit.
She glares at me. “Well, there isn’t. Haley was the only real friend I had. And now she’s gone. She was the only one who knew how to love everyone as they were. There will never be another person like her, ever. So don’t even try!”
She runs to the ladies room, and I can feel numerous pairs of eyes throwing glances in our direction.
I gulp down the rest of my now-tepid coffee, place the cup and saucer in the dish-return. Carrying my book, I stroll toward the exit, already having decided to return tomorrow morning to see how she’s getting along.
online live wetten
My blog :: WettbüRo Mainz
Hello, yup this post is actually fastidious and I have learned lot of things from it regarding
blogging. thanks.
Feel free to surf to my blog post :: craps don’t
pass bet (Jamal)
united kingdom roulette rules, united statesn casino online and td australia visa debit gambling, or what online gambling is legal
in united states
Look at my blog post; game table blackjack-roulette-craps,
Geraldo,
live Sport wetten quoten
der beste wettanbieter
my web blog … wie kann ich beim wetten immer gewinnen
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an extremely long
comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again.
Anyway, just wanted how to play games for real money (Ryan) say excellent blog!
paypal wettanbieter ohne oasis
My webpage :: sportwetten beste
sportwetten kombi tipps sicher tippen
sportwetten anbieter mit paypal (Elisabeth) bonus übersicht
sportwetten tipps kostenlos
my web page: pferderennen wetten
sportwetten ohne lugas
my web blog – dfb pokal quoten Wetten
Ganhe 100 dólares de bônus ao criar sua conta na https://kiaraikzh852952.wikiexpression.net e comece apostando com muito mais confiança.
Essa promoção é exclusiva para novos usuários e é ativada automaticamente após o registro.
Com o bônus, você poderá explorar todo o catálogo da casa: desde apostas esportivas em
campeonatos nacionais e internacionais até jogos de cassino com crupiês
ao vivo. Aproveite essa oferta e transforme seu primeiro acesso em uma chance real de lucro.
sportwetten bester anbieter
Look at my website: WettbüRo KöLn
handicap wetten bwin
Look at my blog post … sportwetten mit bonus ohne einzahlung
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
beste wettseiten
Take a look at my homepage – wettbüro konstanz (Dakisdesignstudio.com)
planet football – https://planet-football.com
beste online sportwetten anbieter paypal; Julio, anbieter
live wetten tipps und tricks
My web-site; kombiwette berechnen (Bettie)
betrivers – https://betrivers-us.com
البث التلفزيوني المباشر – https://kora-live-tv-eg.com
Brilliant article! Zenless Zone Zero – https://zenlesszonezero.pw
Thanks for the tips! Zenless Zone Zero – https://zenlesszonezero.fun
Aproveite agora mesmo a promoção exclusiva da url para novos jogadores e comece com vantagem: ao se cadastrar gratuitamente, você recebe 100 dólares em bônus de boas-vindas. Essa é a sua oportunidade de iniciar no universo das apostas online com muito mais saldo para explorar os jogos de cassino, slots, roletas e apostas esportivas. Cadastre-se, ative sua conta e receba o bônus sem complicações. Tudo isso em uma plataforma segura, confiável e totalmente traduzida para o público brasileiro.|
crypto casino lucky block – https://crypto-casino-lucky-block.com
tim nasional sepak bola gibraltar – https://tim-nasional-sepak-bola-gibraltar.com
chery arrizo chery tiggo 4 pro