the kindnesses of friends and strangers

[harborshore]

Tonight I leaned hard on some wonderful people and then I went off to do something that I was anxious about, and while it didn't go smashingly it was at least okay, and then I left, cried on my friend's shoulder, said goodbye to her, walked down into the station, sat down on a bench between a biker chick and a teenage boy, pulled out my novel, but couldn't actually stop myself from starting to cry again.

But here is where the miracle happens.

After I've been crying for two minutes or so, the biker chick turns to me and says, "Do you need help with anything? Are you okay?"

She's a stranger. In Sweden.

And I manage to say something about no, it's not anything that happened tonight, it's just old stuff.

She says, "Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that you're sad. Are you sure you don't need help? Are you going home now?"

"Yes," I say, "I'm going home."

We talk for a while, about why love hurts and why life hurts; why we take on the hurts because it means we get to have the moments when things are soaring as well. She doesn't say anything new (except of course that initial kindness, as rare as it was sweet), but she's tall and reassuring and I find myself talking about why I'm hurting in more abstract terms, calming down. Then she boards her train and says that she hopes my night clears up and that things keep getting better, and I smile as she goes.

Comments

[liketheroad.livejournal.com]

I might cry a little. God. It's so lovely to hear stuff like that can still happen in the world. I'm so glad it was a moment you got to be part of. ♥

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

It was pretty remarkable. I mean, I sat down next to her because she made me feel safe, but I never, ever expected that. It was so good to have that happen, so good. ♥

[ciel-vert.livejournal.com]

I love it when I hear stories like these. It reaffirms my belief that there are still good people in the world that I don't already know. ♥

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Yes, that, exactly that. ♥ Remarkable and wonderful.

[iamsupernova.livejournal.com]

Wow, that sounds... amazing. Thank you, humanity.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. Sometimes, sometimes. ♥

Re: I would like to say something funny and sarcastic

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do like the way you said that. It kind of felt like that, it did, like a click-click-click as something really important slid into place. And I felt humbled and justified in my faith in humanity and--I don't even know.

[morebliss.livejournal.com]

That is so lovely.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Isn't it? ♥

[wasoncedelight.livejournal.com]

Oh. That's kind of amazing. ♥

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

I feel very--I don't even know how to say it. I believe in people, I always do, but it's a little easier today. ♥

[wasoncedelight.livejournal.com]

I can believe vicariously, and that's enough for me. <3

[turlough]

It makes me happy to know that there really ARE good people in the world.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I just love the world. ♥

[airgiodslv.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that someone was there for you, even if it was unexpected. *hugs*

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

It was kind of gorgeous, like the world smiled at me or something. ♥

PS. Do not fret, I am slowly working my way through the ficlet prompts--I'm looking forward to the costume ball UST. *grins*

[airgiodslv.livejournal.com]

I would never fret! I just hope you're having fun with them, and I can't wait to go back and read. <3

[strange-bt-true.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the world surprises you in the best possible ways, and it's AWESOME. &hearts

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

It was pretty goddamn beautiful. ♥, you.

PS. You're back home? How did it go?!

[strange-bt-true.livejournal.com]

&hearts I HAD SO MUCH FUN. It rained though. And my allergies kicked in, so I puffed up like a blowfish. But fun! The whole trip just made me more excited to finally go back and start LEARNING again, god. My classes sound super awesome! *twirls*

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

LEARNING is ACE. That's awesome, hon, I'm so excited for you! ♥

[bayleaf.livejournal.com]

This totally made me cry, too, albeit in a good way.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

*hugs* If I had a fairy godmother, I'd want it to be her. And I cried while I wrote it up, in a smiling-through-the-tears kind of way. ♥

[oddishly.livejournal.com]

This is really lovely. People can be so many kinds of amazing, and it's always amazing when they are, and then things like this happen and it's like, wow. Thank you, world.

That is to say, hey! I see you around a lot, and some of the people I like best talk about you in the very best of ways. So, hey, have friended you :)

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. I was sort of stunned and grateful and didn't realize just how happy it made me until the next morning when I woke up, because oh, that. ♥

Oh, yes! I've seen you around a lot, too, and I believe my favorite Australian claims you write the very best letters. Welcome! *grins*