The Street

3

I was scared, but I got out of there as fast as I could. Walking down the road, I looked around scared. I felt that I would be noticed in this dress, so I bought another one from the shop and wore it. My hands were shaking.

When I boarded the train, no one else was there. All the seats were empty but I was shaking with fear and shock.

Susan's voice startled me—she was happy to see me! She asked me how things were going so far – what about your mother? your boyfriend. Your marriage?

I am reminded of the proverb 'As if he jumped into a deep river to avoid a shallow pit'.

I will tell you everything. I laughed with tears in my heart. First, tell me about yourself."

She talked about everyone in her family. I had heard without hearing. I kept thinking, "This isn't the time to think about all this. You need to focus on what she's saying." But I could tell that she stopped talking and was waiting for my response.

I felt like a deer in headlights. She looked so sad and tired, it didn't make sense why she was sad or tired—she had everything going for her. She was beautiful, smart, successful, and had everything anyone could want or need.

I couldn't say anything, so I nodded and smiled at her, hoping that would be enough to keep her talking about herself.

She didn't ask me anything because she didn't know what to say. She talked and talked and kept talking. Her voice became a high-pitched giggle that sounded like it was coming from a little girl.

I listened to her story, shaking my head and laughing every time I exhaled. She told me about her family, but I couldn't concentrate on what she was saying because I couldn't say anything.

She didn't ask me anything beyond the occasional question of whether or not I had any questions for her. Finally, an hour later, after listening to her talk about everyone in her family, including her mother and brother, I interrupted her by asking her if she wanted to tell me any more stories.

"Oh!" she said brightly. "I don't understand that." Then she paused for a moment before starting again: "Well, there's one more thing." Her voice rose again; It sounded like it was coming from a little girl."What?" I asked. "My sister's boyfriend. She told me about her sister's new boyfriend—a boy two years younger than her. He's going through a very difficult time—his father left them, and his mother doesn't know how. To take care of him anymore, he comes every day after school, and spends an hour or so with her. To hang out with his sister, he had to go home and make dinner for his family. "What do you think?" she asked me. "I don't know," I said honestly." Well, what do you think of him?" she asked again. "I... don't know," I said again. "Why?" she asked. For the third time in ten minutes." Because… I don't know.”

"I don't know what to say," I told her honestly.

She smiled but was a little sad.

"It's okay," she said. "You can tell me anything."

I thought about it for a moment and then said, "Well, I think he's really handsome."

She laughed again, but this time it wasn't so sad. It was as if she had been waiting for someone to say such a thing to her for so long.

"Thank you," she said. "That makes me feel better about everything."

Hi, Krell! I hope you are doing well. Susan had another friend. I survived.

My mind was tossed like a small boat tossed by the waves. I don't know what to do next, but I have only one thing to do: keep going until I find a way out of this mess.