He was sitting on the stone cold step outside the Co-op A thin blanket around his thin shoulders His outstretched hand reached out to me And touched my heart. I gave him the cup of coffee I had been drinking He seemed pleased, I felt good.
I saw him again on Saturday night, he looked thinner His face hidden beneath a ***** grey hoodie. Once more the outstretched hand reached out to me I gave him a warm blanket, made of wool. He grunted thanks, I felt good.
One week later I went looking for him on the stone cold step outside the Co-op He was sitting on the woollen blanket, his eyes shrunken into his skull I gave him my coat.
He gave an almost imperceptible nod of his covered head And stretched his hand towards me again. I fumbled in my purse, and gave him all I had – he grunted “Huh” I felt I’d let him down.
My friends said I was losing weight, my clothes no longer fitted me. I gave my sweater made of cashmere To the hooded skeletal figure on the doorstep outside the Co-op
His jeans were frayed and ***** from the streets I gave him mine, they no longer fitted me. He looked up, his broken teeth bared in a forbidding, dangerous smile. I flinched. His outstretched hand pulled at my wrist, I backed away, he held me.
I tried to run but his fingers tightened their grip, digging into my flesh He pulled me in the direction of my home. His grip on my wrist burning hot
I turned at my door to see him, he grinned, his eyes seeking my soul. His face now no longer thin, his bony fingers now fleshy, his rotted teeth Improved.
I looked at my hand. I saw my reflection in his eyes. My face skeletal with shrunken cheeks, My shadowed deep set eyes haunted. He laughed a croaking triumphant laugh as he entered my house And pushed me out.
I turned and my feet took me back to the stone cold step Where I crouched down outside the Co-op A thin blanket appeared on my thin shoulders I held my outstretched hand towards an approaching stranger Who walked on by.