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.
leadnex site – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
Hi I am so thrilled I found your weblog, I really found you by error, while I was looking on Askjeeve for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a fantastic post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the great work.
1вин ставки на спорт http://pharm.kg/
Thanks so much for this, keep up the good work :)
sportwetten ohne oasis paysafecard
Feel free to visit my homepage; wetten Beim pferderennen
wetten deutschland
My web-site … Sportwetten Anbieter öSterreich
top sms activate services github.com/SMS-Activate-Login .
I just added your web site to my blogroll, I hope you would look at doing the same.
wettanalysen und wettprognosen
Feel free to surf to my web page :: basketball Wetten Tips
Hiya very nice web site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also? I am happy to search out numerous useful information right here in the submit, we’d like work out extra techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
bester sportwetten bonus
Stop by my homepage; doppelte chance wetten erklärung
best sms activate service http://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-5-sms-activate-services-ultimate-guide-virtual-phone-mike-davis-gnhre/ .
nicheninja site – Found practical insights today; sharing this article with colleagues later.
reachly site – Color palette felt calming, nothing distracting, just focused, thoughtful design.
leadzo site – Found practical insights today; sharing this article with colleagues later.
Epic spins meet epic herds in slot heaven. wonder 4 buffalo brings unlimited bonuses, multiplier stacks, and jackpot herds. Stampede in!
leadora site – Appreciate the typography choices; comfortable spacing improved my reading experience.
1win адрес офиса 1win адрес офиса
esport buchmacher
Here is my site; Wettquote Bei Pferderennen
What’s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & assist different customers like its helped me. Good job.
перепланировка в москве sostav.ru/blogs/286398/77663 .
1win лаки джет pharm.kg
I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.
1win лайв казино http://www.pharm.kg
startguthaben ohne einzahlung wetten
my web blog … welche sportwetten sind in der schweiz Legal