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.
суши с доставкой суши с доставкой .
продвижение по трафику clover prodvizhenie-sajtov-po-trafiku10.ru .
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future. Many thanks
роллы москва роллы москва .
заказать роллы наборы недорого заказать роллы наборы недорого .
1win limite depunere http://1win62509.help
die besten wettseiten
Feel free to surf to my homepage … Sportwetten Strategien Ihren Wetterfolg (Searchmyvideo.Com)
österreich wettanbieter
Stop by my homepage :: online wetten startguthaben
водные экскурсии санкт петербург водные экскурсии санкт петербург .
суши недорого москва суши недорого москва .
блог о маркетинге блог о маркетинге .
digital маркетинг блог digital маркетинг блог .
Хороший материал про то, как понимание региональной аудитории помогает в продвижении. Автор разбирает, чем уральский пользователь отличается от среднего по стране, и как это использовать в контенте и SEO. Есть примеры локальных запросов и рекомендации по работе с отзывами. Почитайте: https://manyppt.ru/ponimanie-osobennostej-regionalnogo-rynka-i-ego-auditorii/
купить суши купить суши .
Hello, I enjoy reading through your article post. I wanted to write a little comment to support you.
ranktarget – Mobile version looks perfect; no glitches, fast scrolling, crisp text.
searchmetrics – Found practical insights today; sharing this article with colleagues later.
роллы с доставкой роллы с доставкой .
searchsignals – Appreciate the typography choices; comfortable spacing improved my reading experience.
rankstrategy – Loved the layout today; clean, simple, and genuinely user-friendly overall.
adzio – Appreciate the typography choices; comfortable spacing improved my reading experience.
прогулки на теплоходе санкт петербург vodnyye-progulki-v-spb.ru .
купить суши купить суши .
маркетинговый блог маркетинговый блог .
мостбет crash на деньги http://www.mostbet34518.help
Pretty! This has been an extremely wonderful post. Thank you for supplying this information.
top sportwetten live
Here is my web page – Basketball-Wetten.Com
сео центр seo-kejsy16.ru .
beste online sportwetten geld zurück, Lasonya,
wetten anbieter
bonus ohne einzahlung sportwetten online Bonus ohne einzahlung
В статье по вопросам здоровья мы рассматриваем актуальные проблемы, с которыми сталкивается общество. Обсуждаются заболевания, факторы риска и важные аспекты профилактики. Читатели получат полезные советы о том, как сохранить здоровье и улучшить качество жизни.
Разобраться лучше – https://www.xcelenergy.com/stateselector?stateselected=true&goto=https://vozrojdenie.site/lechenie-hronicheskogo-alkogolizma
wie funktionieren handicap Quoten Wetten
1win depunere criptomonede Moldova http://1win5758.help
суши роллы суши роллы .
экскурсия в яндекс офис в москве для школьников экскурсия в яндекс офис в москве для школьников .
продвижение сайта продажи kak-prodat-sajt-1.ru .
доставка суши москва доставка суши москва .