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.
Peu importe le choix que vous ferez, je vous garantis que vous
porterez ce vêtement avec fierté et vous sublimerez vos proches.
мелбет установка apk melbet76521.help
1win проблема с входом android 1win проблема с входом android
sweet bonanza ua android http://www.sweet-bonanza06538.help
заказать кухню по индивидуальным размерам заказать кухню по индивидуальным размерам .
mostbet reputatie https://www.mostbet21067.help
luxury villas in phuket for sale thailand villas-for-sale-in-phuket-1.com .
This contained some excellent tips and tools. Great blog publication.
beste wedden sites csgo
Here is my web page Basketball-wetten.com
Saw your material, and hope you publish more soon.
I absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. Do you offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome web site!
We’re developing a conference, and it looks like you would be a great speaker.
вывод из запоя краснодар на дому анонимно vyvod-iz-zapoya-v-krasnodare-1.ru .
Very fine blog.
вывод из запоя краснодар на дому вывод из запоя краснодар на дому .
лечение алкоголизма лечение алкоголизма .
apartments for sale phuket thailand apartments for sale phuket thailand .
These kind of posts are always inspiring and I prefer to read quality content so I happy to find many good point here in the post. writing is simply wonderful! thank you for the post
It’s continually awesome when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! I’m sure you had fun writing this article. Regards, Clotilde.
вывод из запоя дешево краснодар вывод из запоя дешево краснодар .
реабилитационный центр от алкоголизма vyvod-iz-zapoya-na-domu-voronezh-3.ru .
наркологическая клиника наркологическая клиника .
вывод из запоя на дому vyvod-iz-zapoya-na-domu-samara.ru .
лечение алкоголизма лечение алкоголизма .
вывод из запоя анонимно краснодар вывод из запоя анонимно краснодар .
заказать кухню с установкой zakazat-kuhnyu-11.ru .
Your posts provide a clear, concise description of the issues.
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.
вывод из запоя на дому вывод из запоя на дому .
Is it okay to put a portion of this on my weblog if perhaps I post a reference point to this web page?
What i discover troublesome is to find a weblog that may capture me for a minute however your blog is different. Bravo.
Hey! I realize this is somewhat off-topic however I needed to ask. Does running a well-established website like yours take a massive amount work? I’m brand new to writing a blog but I do write in my journal daily. I’d like to start a blog so I can easily share my experience and thoughts online. Please let me know if you have any recommendations or tips for brand new aspiring blog owners. Thankyou!
https://mostbet-zerkaloonline.buzz/big-bass-bonanza-vegas-bez-pervonachalnogo/
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!
Thank you for sharing this very good post. Very interesting ideas! (as always, btw)
home insurance mag – Loved the layout today; clean, simple, and genuinely user-friendly overall.
вывод из запоя в стационаре краснодара vyvod-iz-zapoya-v-krasnodare-1.ru .
Exceptional post but I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Thank you!
I believe this web site has some really wonderful info for everyone : D.
наркологическая клиника наркологическая клиника .
вывод из запоя с выездом краснодар vyvod-iz-zapoya-v-krasnodare-4.ru .
вывод из запоя с выездом краснодар vyvod-iz-zapoya-v-krasnodare-2.ru .
thailand phuket apartments for sale thailand phuket apartments for sale .
реабилитация наркоманов vyvod-iz-zapoya-na-domu-voronezh-2.ru .
наркологический центр наркологический центр .
реабилитационный центр для наркозависимых реабилитационный центр для наркозависимых .
лечение наркомании vyvod-iz-zapoya-na-domu-samara.ru .
вывод из запоя краснодар наркология vyvod-iz-zapoya-v-krasnodare-3.ru .
кухню заказать кухню заказать .
наркологический центр наркологический центр .