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.
заказать букет москва с доставкой недорого http://zakazat-cveti-moskva.ru .
1xbet g?ncel 1xbet g?ncel .
Greetings… your blog is very interesting and beautifully written.
проектирование капитального ремонта зданий remont-zdaniya-1.ru .
I have learn a few excellent stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much effort you put to make this kind of great informative web site.
A colleague in the field told me to check out your website.
searchengineers – Found practical insights today; sharing this article with colleagues later.
With this issue, it’s important to have someone like you with something to say that really matters.
I just couldn’t leave your web site prior to suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard info an individual supply to your guests? Is going to be again continuously in order to inspect new posts
mostbet aviator demo https://www.mostbet07493.help
Hello there, You have done an incredible job. I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this site.
В этой статье мы рассматриваем разные способы борьбы с алкогольной зависимостью. Обсуждаются методы лечения, программы реабилитации и советы для поддержки близких. Читатели получат информацию о том, как преодолеть зависимость и добиться успешного выздоровления.
Исследовать вопрос подробнее – лечение хронической тазовой боли
marketingengine – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
Cherished is likely to be what people say about your comments.
Your style is really unique in comparison to other folks I have read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this blog.
A friend of mine advised me to review this site. And yes. it has some useful pieces of info and I enjoyed reading it.
mostbet descarcare app android https://mostbet2009.help
этапы капитального ремонта квартиры remont-zdaniya-1.ru .
mostbet ошибка входа в приложение https://mostbet42395.help
1win kazino saytı 1win kazino saytı
Этот информативный текст сочетает в себе темы здоровья и зависимости. Мы обсудим, как хронические заболевания могут усугубить зависимости и наоборот, как зависимость может влиять на общее состояние здоровья. Читатели получат представление о комплексном подходе к лечению как физического, так и психического состояния.
Подробнее тут – какие последствия запоя
el mejor sitio de total tarjetas apuestas, Dillon,
1xbet 1xbet .
1xbet giri? 1xbet giri? .
1xbet ?ye ol 1xbet-giris-32.com .
leadnest – Appreciate the typography choices; comfortable spacing improved my reading experience.
Great blog right here! You seem to put a significant amount of material on the site rather quickly.
predicciones comparador bonos apuestas deportivas de tenis
1xbet g?ncel 1xbet g?ncel .
1xbet tr giri? 1xbet-giris-38.com .
1xbet t?rkiye 1xbet t?rkiye .
casas de apuestas de futbol sin dinero; Tami, caballos
I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This post posted at this site is genuinely fastidious.
1xbet resmi sitesi 1xbet resmi sitesi .
1xbet yeni giri? adresi 1xbet-giris-42.com .
birxbet birxbet .
1xbet giri? linki 1xbet giri? linki .
birxbet giri? 1xbet-giris-38.com .
1x lite 1xbet-giris-37.com .