By: Anna Cates, Wilmington, Ohio
and Steve Van Allen, Cincinnati, Ohio
even on gray days
the sun fights to silver sheen
beyond cloud cover
We held the door for a lady, dragging two wheeled suitcases, balancing a shopping bag on one. Her long black coat was nice, years ago. She parked her bags inside the door and shuffled to the counter. “I have 4 dollars,” dragging wrinkled ones from a pocket.
“Keep your money; I’ll cover it,” said the manager.
We took our order and began eating. When the manager swung by our booth, we thanked her.
“I’m from Louisiana. I was homeless, and an addict. I know,” she said.
The lady talked to her meal as she ate, and when she was through, wheeled all her worldly goods out the door.
first snow
disappearing with her
silent dreams