Fiction
Land of Promiseby Brian Silverman
He sat on the park bench covered in dirt and ash. A light, late spring rain shower began to streak the dirt on his arms. People stared at him as they hurriedly walked past. His body ached and his throat was raw. He was on the east side now, close to the 4, 5, and 6 trains. The subway entrance was just a few blocks away. He could make it there and then get a train uptown to the Bronx. That was his hope.
There was a crowd gathered around the entrance to the subway. Two cops stood vigilant on either side of it. Thick yellow tape was spread across either side. People peered beyond the cops at the blocked stairs leading to the subway.
“System’s closed,” one of the cops said.
He started walking uptown. He stopped in a deli for a bottle of water. He
