Our Common Street
By Kelly Herren
 
Our eyes met for the first time while roaming our now common street. We were both alone but neither of us had ever been lonely.

I had only been gone about a month. I ‘m not even sure if my parents knew I was gone.

Oh don’t get me wrong, my parents did what they were supposed to do, they gave me life, a warm place to sleep, food to eat, and some amusement.

But something was missing. Even now I am not exactly sure what it is, but something. And so I’ve spent nearly a month now wandering this same street looking, searching and hoping in some type of fearful trepidation that I just might find what I’m looking for.  And if I find it, then what? Will I then have to “do something with my life”? What does that mean anyway? Aren’t I doing something with my life right now? Doesn’t my very existence have some impact on someone or something in this world?

At first she didn’t say anything. Then without words she said are you lost? I didn’t really answer I just sat there in a shaft of sunshine that was warming the concrete. She then sat down beside me and told me her story.

She said she had parents who did what they were supposed to do. They gave her life, a warm place to sleep, food to eat and some amusement. And like me she’d even left home about a month ago around the same time I did. She said something was missing and she wasn’t sure what it was.

I don’t know why but suddenly I felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and safety. I moved closer and so did she. And then we were cuddling. Imagine that, complete strangers cuddling on a cold damp street with a shaft of golden sunshine overhead warming us. I felt warm, not just on the outside but on the inside as well.

Was this it? Was this what I had been looking and searching for? Did she feel the same thing?

Then she stood up alone but we would leave together. She said her name was Sarah but she would call me Fluffy.