A short man in a leather
bikers jacket with the words "Live to Ride" on the back, limped around
the subway platform, "Excuse me," he would say in an ever so gentle
voice, but everyone ignored him. His disfigured face filled with burn spots and Vitiligo patches made people think it was a joke. How could someone be so
hideous, I'm sure were the thoughts going through their heads. "Excuse me
miss," he whispered as he made his way through the sweaty lines for the
trains. The passengers would say hurtful things under their breaths, because
apparently, American's have a notion that all homeless people do it to themselves. But no one ever stops to
think of the cause of this unfortunate outcome. A fire, a freak accident that
killed the entire family, bankruptcies, intense drug abuse, all possibilities that this individual has to live with.
"Ew mommy! What's wrong with his face?" A curious child asked his
mother as he tugged at her dress. And the mother hushed him and hugged him close to her body. The
disfigured man smiled heavyhearted trying to show his strength but it seemed useless at this point. His day had been filled with ridicule, sucked up
tears and salty hellos. He tapped the shoulder of a rough looking woman and
greeted her with a smile. Her hair was in a messy bun and her style was...interesting to say the least. “Excuse me ma'am can you tell me how to get
to Union Square? "
he asked with the heaviest Southern accent. Without turning around she answered "I'm headed there too,
follow me." His spirit lifted and it seemed as though she felt the surge of energy go through
her body, because she shivered and quickly turned to meet her new acquaintance. She proceeded to stick her hand out and shook his aggressively. They both smiled at their new friend made. Her
soft eyes yet rough dry skin made her face a bit frightening as well. In a sense, her kindness beamed through, making her appear to transform into something angelic “I’m Marie," she said. “I’m Teddy. Pleasure to meet u ma'am. Thank you so
much for your help." He replied as he was still shaking her hand. Their
contact was unshaken and unspoken but completely genuine. And thus, the rest of
their story was history. As they boarded the train together, the two smitten
strangers found solace and kindness in the world once again.
And just maybe, they had chosen a chance at love.
