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.
online casino bonus bez vkladu casino-cz-14.com .
live casino casino-cz-13.com .
always i used to read smaller content which
also clear their motive, and that is also happening with this post which I am reading
now.
casino bonus bez vkladu casino-cz-17.com .
online üBer unter Wetten basketball bonus vergleich
ruleta online ruleta online .
casino hry online casino-cz-19.com .
nov? ?esk? online casino nov? ?esk? online casino .
ruleta online casino-cz-15.com .
esport live wetten; Trinidad, deutschland
I couldn’t resist commenting. Very well written!
wett vorhersagen von profis
my website – test wettanbieter
Amazing! Its truly remarkable article, I have got much clear idea about from
this paragraph.
online casina online casina .
mobiln? casino casino-cz-14.com .
v?hern? automaty online casino-cz-13.com .
leg?ln? online casino leg?ln? online casino .
online casino s ?eskou licenc? online casino s ?eskou licenc? .
You are so interesting! I do not believe I have read a single
thing like this before. So wonderful to discover someone with some unique thoughts on this subject matter.
Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a
little originality!
free spiny casino-cz-18.com .
bonus za registraci bez vkladu bonus za registraci bez vkladu .
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely feel this web site needs far more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for the advice!
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thanks,
However I am having troubles with your RSS. I don’t understand why I cannot subscribe to it.
Is there anybody having similar RSS issues? Anyone who knows the solution will you kindly respond?
Thanks!!
If wings are your thing, Tinker Bell’s sexy Halloween costume design is all grown up.
I believe this web site has some really wonderful info for everyone : D.
hrac? automaty online casino-cz-17.com .
experten tipps sportwetten
Feel free to surf to my web site mit basketball wetten geld verdienen (Basketball-wetten.com)
cz casina cz casina .
?esk? online casina ?esk? online casina .
bonus bez vkladu casino-cz-13.com .
live casino live casino .
Excellent way of explaining, and fastidious piece of writing to get facts on the topic of my presentation focus, which i am going to present in institution of higher education.
With internet full of dupe articles it is nice to find original content like yours thank you so very much.
I am glad to talk with you and you give me great help
nov? ?esk? online casino nov? ?esk? online casino .
There most be a solution for this problem, some people think there will be now solutions, but i think there wil be one.
Magnificent beat ! Can I be your apprentice? Just kidding!
mobiln? casino casino-cz-15.com .
This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am in fact impressed to read all at alone place.
byueuropaviagraonline
casino cz casino cz .
v?hern? automaty online v?hern? automaty online .
casino hry online casino-cz-14.com .
automaty online casino-cz-13.com .
With internet full of dupe articles it is nice to find original content like yours thank you so very much.
You are a very smart person! :)
casino online casino online .
It’s not my first time to pay a quick visit this website, i am browsing this web site dailly and get nice data from here daily.
Howdy I wanted to write a new remark on this page for you to be able to tell you just how much i actually Enjoyed reading this read. I have to run off to work but want to leave ya a simple comment. I saved you So will be returning following work in order to go through more of yer quality posts. Keep up the good work.
список казино без верификации Казино без верификации (или “no KYC” – Know Your Customer) – это онлайн-платформы, которые позволяют игрокам вносить депозиты, делать ставки и выводить выигрыши без необходимости предоставлять документы, удостоверяющие личность (паспорт, водительские права, счета за коммунальные услуги и т.д.)
mgm sports app betmgm-play betting mgm