Lost & Found

Hey lady...his voice pushes through the crush of bodies that rushes between them in her departure. Callous fingers reach into empty air, as her fleeing back all but disappearing from his view.

Hey, stop that lady...a crowd of eyes cut a quick glance before faces turn, enough of their own business to tend to in the rush to collapse exhausted when the holiday finally arrives. Auburn hair flows in her wake like the train of a dress, caught in a warm breeze.

Excuse me, excuse me...anxiousness intoxicates his movements, making them clumsy as his efforts to part the sea of humanity only leaving him further and further behind. Questions taunt his thoughts with possibilities if he fails to reach her.

Hey...a window opens, adrenaline fuels his flight, a lone fingernail drawing a slight touch upon the elbow of her black coat.

What...stress hisses through each syllable, her eyes rake the entirety of his person like sand, finding naught and reflect that back upon him in an unseen wave.

You dropped this...soft textured leather of the wallet, a sharp contrast to the rough pads of his hand. Stark silence sits between them, oxygen snuffed from her lungs, as she wraps her well manicured fingers around the lost, now found.

Happy Holidays...his whisper fills the void, a twinkle escaping the corner of his eye. A softening smile accompanies the quick turn on her heal as she heads to the door once again, leaving the man in his wheelchair in the aisle, a rock in the stream of people caught up in the chaos of Christmas.

Merry Christmas...our eyes meet as I slip from the clothes racks, an unspoken understanding passing between us, that joy comes not in how they respond but in the simple act of giving. I swear I hear a Ho, Ho, Ho, as he wheels out of sight.


I hope all of you have a magical holiday season. A year ago, I never would have believed where this blog has gone in the last year and all the wonderful friends I would make. You give me smiles each day with your comments, emails and the occasional phone call. Knowing you is one gift that won't fit under my tree. Thank you. ~Brian