She had an oversized winter coat. No gloves. No hat.
She was a hundred yards from the train station.
And walking the other way.
No one was waiting.
It was Christmas Day.
27° F.
4:30 pm.
Kids are lounging.
Jake & Josh running in one room.
The other is curled up with Zeke and a comforter. Both sound asleep.
Dinner was in the oven. ETA of 6:30 pm.
I glance out the window.
Daylight is fading quickly.
There’s time.
I could see her outline in the shadows of the street lights.
Hunched over.
Alone.
There is a silence on Christmas Day.
A hush.
An occasional car passing.
A family of six sitting in an otherwise empty Chinese restaurant.
A man with his cup of coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts. Another standing at the counter.
She was using her entire body to move forward.
And making very little progress.
The walker scraping on the uneven sidewalk.
I’m left with the sound of my breathing. And its mist.
The clicking and whirring of the changing traffic signals.
The graceless pounding of my foot fall.
A metal stamping machine hammering away.
She stops. Looks up at me. I stare back at her.
Her eyes. Sunken. Gaunt. Haunting.
She drops her head.
I pass her by.
I couldn’t get it out.
Not: Merry Christmas.
Not: Happy Holidays.
Not: Can I help you?
I look back over my shoulder.
She’s hunched over. And scraping her way into the darkness.
I get home.
Dinner is on the table.
I’m scolded for being late.
I change out of my running gear,
shivering while I get on dry clothes.
And I hear the background music:
Adeste Fideles. Oh Come All Ye Faithful.
I have noticed that, if you look carefully at people’s eyes, the first five seconds they look at you, the truth of their feelings will shine through, for just an instant before it flickers away.
Sue Monk Kidd
Image Credit
Related Posts: The Running Series.
Awww so beautiful and real… Happy new year my friend, to you and your family! 🙂
Thank you Ioanna. Happy New Year to you too.
I saw her..I could feel her efforts and huddle against her loneliness. I love the way you write. And feel. Full stop.
Thank you Mimi. I can still feel her.
Achingly beautiful description, pal….
Thank you Lori.
i agree about the eyes and in an instant you knew each other’s story.
Yes, the quote so captured the moment.
Oh, that’s sad…I think about other people’s lives…and wonder what goes on in their hearts. We are, each of us, just as important as any other…and it does make me sad to see lives of hardship, and eyes of loneliness and pain. Thanks for sharing your words David.
Yes, I’m with you Carol…
Cripes, David, this is the beginning of a great story. I’m completely hooked. Who are these people? What’s happening? More!
Thank you Sandy. 🙂
Loneliness and sadness are emphasized during the holidays. Beautifully written, I could feel your discomfort.
Thank you Carolann
Hoping your holiday were filled with joy, David, and that the new year brings you abundant deliciousness. (I hope you consider imitation the highest form of flattery – as I was creating today’s blog, with the back and forth of ideas, I thought, this is something I learned from David! 🙂 http://abundelic.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/where-abundant-deliciousness-begins/
awwwww, you made my day. Thank you Vicki. Happy Holidays to you!