Bibi Crane Lost Opportunity

Lost Opportunity

Bibi Crane

I slowly leaned back in my recliner and closed my eyes, letting the warm sunlight from the window in front of me envelop my body in a soft embrace. The fading sun was filling his room with golden light and casting lengthy shadows across the floor, suffusing the room with a peaceful yet somber feeling. Everything eventually had to come to an end, even the days themselves could not come out unscathed.

I’m so bored. Bored, bored, bored! When would the nurse be back? I started feeling hungry. When is dinner?

I cracked an eye open, glanced at the digital clock on the table beside me, then huffed. An hour until she gets back. Should I call her? My gaze slowly slid over the room around me, lazily trying to pinpoint where my phone was hiding. I cursed, realizing it was across the room on the kitchen counter. There was no way I would be able to walk over there to grab it, not with a broken leg. My house was a mess anyway: there were dirty clothes on the floor, random pieces of trash strewn about, and even a cheap wig I had bought online for just a few dollars hanging on one of my lamps.

Sighing, I diverted my attention to the window in front of me. I figured if I had to wait an hour, I may as well try to entertain myself. At the street below, cars whizzed by at blinding speeds, coming within inches of each other but never crashing. Through the window, I heard muffled honks and angry yells from the cab drivers. New York, so charming, I thought sarcastically to myself. Busy people passed by each other without a second glance. Slowly, a smile spread across my face as I observed them. People-watching was one of my favorite pastimes. I enjoyed trying to guess their life stories, or just making inferences about a particular person in general.

My gaze darted over the crowds of people, desperately trying to pick out someone unique. A woman carrying an enormous briefcase caught my eye. She looked about twenty, with a slim figure and soft brown hair piled on top of her head. Her bright red trench coat contrasted brightly with the dull, dark colors around her, which led

to the illusion that she lit up the space around her. She seemed to be grasping the heavy object with all her might, accidentally bumping into those who refused to get out of her way. She eventually stopped at a crosswalk but refused to put her baggage down.

My attention was suddenly pulled in another direction. A sturdily built man was waiting on the opposite side of the street as the woman. He was tall, wearing a light blue dress shirt and carrying a similar, heavy-looking briefcase. The crosswalk sign turned on, notifying the public that it was safe to walk across the street. The two brightly clothed figures stood firmly rooted to the spot, staring quietly at each other.

I smiled softly and leaned forward in anticipation. Is this going to be a moment to remember?

A raggedy, faceless man shoved past the bright red woman, leaving a dirty patch on her shoulder and jostling the briefcase out of her hands. The bag burst open as it hit the ground, scattering crisp white papers. The man from across the street sprung into action, quickly dropping his own briefcase and crossing the street to help the frantic girl. They quickly collected the papers, dodging in and out of the giant, colorless crowd.

The two figures met once again. I watched, breathlessly, begging God to let something click into place. Perhaps it was my own boredom, but I needed something to fall into place between them. This could not be another lost opportunity. The man softly handed a stack of messy papers to the woman; love etched into every line of his face. Their hands touched, and I felt the electricity all the way from two stories above. The woman quickly drew away and unconsciously touched the dirty mark the grimy man had carelessly left on her shoulder a few moments before. The two figures quickly mouthed a few words to each other then parted ways.

I frowned and watched as the two figures disappeared into the crowd, their colors slowly merging into the dull and dark world around them.