Frustration boarded the bus at 8:30 this morning,
Lungs already filled with smoke and
little
white
lies.

“Hey girl, how are you,” crackled the female voice through the earpiece, barely audible through the static and bus-noise.  The question was avoided.  “Do you want to go grab some breakfast down at Honey’s?”  Another pause in conversation and the girl on the bus shook her head, as if actions could be felt through a phone signal.  The voice on the other side of the connection made a noise as if she was going to say something but decided against it and merely sighed.  There was a short exchange of ‘goodbyes’ and the click of a closing cell phone.

She took her seat at the back of the bus,
daring anyone to stare at her
sunken in cheeks
and loose jeans.
she wanted to scream at them to notice her
just so they might envy her.
but she had always been taught
envy is a sin
so she said nothing.

Awkwardly, she shuffled through her purse as if she was looking for something.  She was nervous about the empty seat beside her and who might take it and who she might have to smile at.  It hurt to smile these days, her face felt so stretched, like there wasn’t enough skin to cover her cheekbones, but she had convinced herself of other possibilities.  

Abused boarded the bus at 8:45 this morning,
dark shades and long sleeves
and a smile painted on
her swollen lips.

This new arrival was glad to find an empty bus seat somewhat close to the front, she hated walking by people when she looked like this.  Who wore long sleeves during June in California?  Apparently she did.  Awkwardly, she smiled at the girl sitting in the seat next to the empty one she had filled and began to dig slowly through her purse, as if she was looking for something. During this shuffle she managed to flick her wallet out of the purse and it fell softly on the lap of the girl next to her.

Emma Carlson
D/O/B: 05/09/83
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blu…

She snatched the wallet up quickly with a nervous laugh as if she’d done something wrong and shoved it back into her designer purse. Her blue eyes caught the contrastingly dark brown eyes of the woman opposite her and mumbled a soft apology.

The air set fire with
understanding

Both women smiled and the rest of the bus ride was silent.

Calm and composed
stepped off the bus at 9:07 this morning
and into Honey’s Bakery.

Strong and determined
stepped off the bus at 9:12 this morning
and into the courthouse.




Sometimes things are better said through closed lips.