Never Alone

When you can't sleep and its almost 3am what do you do? I listen for signs. Signs that everything is going to be OK. But I never hear anything. I don't feel that warm feeling of confidence and security. I hear the wind travelling through my open window and past my feet. It's cold out there and the night is young.

"HEY! Honey, you got a cigarette?" I hear down at the corner while reaching for my blanket the breeze wizzing through the horizontal blinds. "What?" Carol my neighbor next door answers.  She seems to have similar sleeping habits as myself. "A cigarette!" The invisible voice yells again. "NO." Carol says under her breath just loud enough for the unseen voice to hear, "I don't smoke." Carol goes inside and slams the door behind her.

The voice coming from the corner is still there, it is cold outside but she doesn't seem bothered not having her cigarette. The unknown beggar crosses the street and I get a better view of this stranger. She is young and blonde under dressed for the weather and alone. As she crosses the street a car driving through slows down glances at the beggar as she crosses the street and then continues on its way.

Another car approaches and this time parks. The beggar makes her way towards the car whose owner lives on the block but rarely speaks. The beggar approaches the cars passenger side and speaks to the Neighbor. She reaches in the car taking something from his passenger seat and walks away. She has her cigarette now I think to myself.  The beggar walks down my block and exits out of my site.

It's cold outside and the night is young but the block is hot. Another stranger approaches the Neighbor and he points her to the next block over. There must be plenty of "cigarettes" down there I think. The wind still blowing needs to blow all this street trash away. The Neighbor exits his car and heads inside. He has a stiff demeanor and limps when walking as if his knees refuse to bend. The wind really needs to blow away the trash around here.

Its almost 4am and my sleep has finally caught up with me. My eyelids are loosing the battle and another busy day appears to be at its end. I'm still listening, hoping that I'm not alone. Wondering if I am the only soul who sees the wrongs in front of us. It seems to be so easy for others to turn a cold shoulder to the evil in fornt of their face. Ignoring those that need help. I think I need a cigarette.