The shadows from the towering buildings and twisting shapes up above fall
like mazes on the sidewalk that lead to nowhere,
so I choose not to follow them
I don't know down which street I should be going
I sense the woman on the sidewalk across from me -
the street opens up between us in a giant yawn, and I keep her in step -
it's the time of night and the type of dark that can put anyone on edge,
alone, downtown
The woman walks with purpose,
maybe it's just a mask to shake off the loneliness of night,
maybe it's a purpose she's never been able to find in the daylight -
I cross the street and close the gap between us, the gap between us
To her, I'm just a shape to sidestep to avoid confrontation -
the stench of my breath wraps around her like a blanket on a hot summer night
until she wakes up in a sweat and kicks me off
We reach the next corner, and I turn the other direction -
as the gap between us grows, I hear her breathe again - the air around her more bearable
as she gets used to the stench
It's late, and I know I'll have to catch the last bus to make it home
I've never had to wait for a bus my entire life,
but I guess you have to start somewhere