Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia

We had no interaction other than sharing half-smiles
as the couple passed by
My smile, a mix of concern and surprise
Her smile, a story of a hard day, a hard tomorrow to come
They carefully rolled out their worn blanket upon the hard floor
Placed another upon it
And sandwiched themselves between the pair
The couple, a decade older than me
Kissed each other goodnight
And lovingly rolled away from each other
The woman fell asleep while
The man laid reading,
His sock-covered feet sticking out from the end of the covers
The scene seems so delicately familiar,
But at the same time a shocking contrast to that which I know

-Liz, senior, NC State University
Alternative Spring Break