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.
Its such as you learn my thoughts! You seem to understand a lot approximately this, such as you wrote the ebook in it or something. I think that you just can do with a few % to force the message house a little bit, however other than that, this is excellent blog. A great read. I’ll definitely be back.
фриспины без депозита и отыгрыша
бездепозитные бонусы без отыгрыша
Зеркало трюмо купить в Москве Зеркала настенные поворотные : стильный и практичный элемент декора для вашего дома.
Saw your material, and hope you publish more soon.
Hey! I know this is sort of off-topic however I had to ask. Does running a well-established website such as yours take a lot of work? I’m brand new to running a blog but I do write in my diary on a daily basis. I’d like to start a blog so I can easily share my personal experience and thoughts online. Please let me know if you have any recommendations or tips for brand new aspiring bloggers. Appreciate it!
ключ тг Скидки в Стиме: Не пропустите самые выгодные скидки и акции в Steam, чтобы купить игры по лучшим ценам!
These are some of the most important issues we’ll face over the next few decades.
заклепки вытяжные 6 вытяжные резьбовые заклепки
Зеркало трюмо Зеркала любых размеров: изготовление зеркал любых размеров, точно соответствующих вашим потребностям.
It’s hard to find experienced people in this particular topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
I truly love your website.. Very nice colors & theme.
Did you build this amazing site yourself? Please reply
back as I’m wanting to create my own site and would like to know where you
got this from or what the theme is named. Thanks!
It’s awesome to go to see this site and reading the views of all
mates about this paragraph, while I am also zealous of getting
know-how.
спины за регистрацию без депозита с выводом
Hey very nice blog!
usaash bingo usa, real money australian online pokies
and best can online gambling affect credit rating – https://M-condit.info/signtex/mindil-beach-casino-restaurant,
pokies in new zealand with neosurf, or uk gambling statistics 2021
crypto gambling sites uk, best paying online pokies united kingdom and ept poker chips
in usa, or bet365 caesars palace Craps table minimum
odds usa
бесплатные спины без депозита