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.
It’s time for communities to rally.
цветы город https://cvejie-cveti.ru/ .
вавада рабочее зеркало сайта вавада рабочее зеркало сайта .
melbet букмекерская контора официальный сайт melbet букмекерская контора официальный сайт .
Howdy! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
buy viagra sexual porno xxx adults pills
Jogo do Tigrinho no Pix R$1: teste grátis com chance real de bônus explosivo
Pretty component of content. I simply stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to
assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
Anyway I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I success you get entry to constantly rapidly.
Feel free to visit my page: Goplayslots.net
Hello my family member! I wish to say that this post is amazing, nice written and come with almost all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this .
PG Soft no celular 5G: big win em qualquer lugar do Brasil – já aconteceu?
seo продвижение по трафику clover seo продвижение по трафику clover .
Fenerbahce 0-3 Nottingham Forest 2026 Europa League play-off shock
vavada сайт vavada сайт .
согласование перепланировки квартиры в москве согласование перепланировки квартиры в москве .
melbet букмекерская контора melbet букмекерская контора .
скачать мелбет на телефон айфон скачать мелбет на телефон айфон .
If you would like to improve your familiarity just keep visiting this web page and be updated with the hottest news update posted here.
free chip online casino australia, united kingdom roulette free download and most
reliable online casino australia, or no deposit bonus codes new casinos 2021 deposit
bonus casino microgaming australia
мелбет официальный сайт вход в личный кабинет мелбет официальный сайт вход в личный кабинет .
usa casino providers, instant withdrawal online casino australia and ontario australia online
gambling, or no deposit bonus leo casino (Hugh) united states 2021
wettstrategien livewetten
my website :: virtuelle basketball-Wetten
Very rapidly this site will be famous amid all blogging and site-building users, due to it’s fastidious posts
Рскал информацию Рѕ том, как повысить видимость сайта, Рё нашёл эту статью. Автор объясняет, что SEO — это РЅРµ только РїСЂРѕ РїРѕРёСЃРєРѕРІРёРєРё, РЅРѕ Рё РїСЂРѕ удобство для пользователей. Есть практические советы. Почитайте: https://drnonadv.ru/seo-prodvizhenie-sajta-iskusstvo-vidimosti-v-cifrovom-mire/
игровые автоматы вавада игровые автоматы вавада .
melbet скачать на айфон бесплатно melbet скачать на айфон бесплатно .
vavada сайт vavada сайт .
melbet фрибет 1000 melbet фрибет 1000 .
Fortune Ox touro dourado: já ativou hold & win com 15+ símbolos e ganhou tudo?
мелбет ру мелбет ру .
нарколог на дом цены narkolog-na-dom-v-krasnodare.ru .
I feel that is among the so much significant info for me. And i am satisfied studying your article. However should commentary on some basic issues, The site style is ideal, the articles is in reality excellent : D. Excellent activity, cheers
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
наркологическая клиника в москве наркологическая клиника в москве .
united statesn roulette wheel play, advanced roulette uk and free online pokies
win real money united kingdom, or native united statesn tribal casinos
Also visit my web-site: Is The River Rock Casino Open
melbet на айфон melbet на айфон .
You certainly deserve a round of applause for your post and more specifically, your blog in general. Very high quality material!
вавада казино вавада казино .
My relatives every time say that I am killing my time here at web, but I know I am getting experience all the time by reading thes good articles.
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for who owns
casino in ms open, Keeley, kc
вавада сайт зеркало вавада сайт зеркало .
Just stumble upon your blog from from time to time. nice article
melbet official website melbet official website .
наркологическая клиника трезвый выбор narkologicheskaya-klinika-trezvyj-vybor-1.ru .
Нашёл материал, где подробно разбирается, как строить SMM-стратегию с нуля: от аудита и анализа аудитории до запуска рекламных кампаний и оптимизации. Есть раздел про контент-план и работу с UGC. Рекомендую: https://foto-videomontaz.ru/smm-prodvizhenie-v-soczialnyh-setyah-princzipy-instrumenty-i-pokazateli-effektivnosti/
Certainly. And I have faced it. Let’s discuss this question. Here or in PM.
анализ наружной рекламы reklamnyj-kreativ13.ru .
Only a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style and design .
умная нейросеть для учебы nejroset-dlya-referatov-8.ru .
There are some interesting deadlines on this article but I don’t know if I see all of them middle to heart. There’s some validity but I’ll take hold opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we wish more! Added to FeedBurner as properly
a/b тест наружная реклама reklamnyj-kreativ12.ru .
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.