Anonymous
A large cardboard refrigerator box opened out from under her, for comfort, of sorts, for the collection of change from those who passed her by, who kept on walking.
Across the road a café opened, the smell of shower gel and hairspray fresh on the customers who walked in and out anonymous.
Cars sped by, their drivers trying not to spill their paper cup lattes, checking their Facebook, picking the coagulated sleep crustaceans from their eyes, trying to make that light, always red, always red, why are the lights always red when you have to be somewhere you think is important?
She tips over, a mass of dirty clothes now hiding a body which is also worn, also spent.
She cries out, a breath carrying silent words wheezed from lungs tarred from rollies, fag ends discarded by others, her last luxuries, from a life without. No words, just a breath gently escaping as her body turns off, at ease, at last.
Across the road a café opened, the smell of shower gel and hairspray fresh on the customers who walked in and out anonymous.
Cars sped by, their drivers trying not to spill their paper cup lattes, checking their Facebook, picking the coagulated sleep crustaceans from their eyes, trying to make that light, always red, always red, why are the lights always red when you have to be somewhere you think is important?
She tips over, a mass of dirty clothes now hiding a body which is also worn, also spent.
She cries out, a breath carrying silent words wheezed from lungs tarred from rollies, fag ends discarded by others, her last luxuries, from a life without. No words, just a breath gently escaping as her body turns off, at ease, at last.
No-one hears all ears are turned else ware.
The lights turn green and Grey Lynn’s morning gets back on track, hardly missing a beat, that anyone notices.
Kirk Lafferty 11/16
