#robertseanleonard

I got on the train early this morning, and sitting opposite me was a young girl. The first thing I noticed about her was her slightly shabby yet simple appearance. Her hair was a tad disheveled, there were wrinkles on her shirt, and her nails were poorly trimmed, with nail polish chipping at the edges. Her clothing was nothing exceptional either. She was wearing a black t-shirt, paired with black leggings, and her expression gave away the fact that she preferred solitude rather than traveling through public transport—she appeared to be quite nervous, toying with a loose thread on her shirt and rubbing the back of her neck in an awkward manner repeatedly. However, after a short while, her self-consciousness led her to reveal a book from her rucksack. The title of the book read Dead Poets Society. Soon enough, the muscles in her face relaxed, and her jittery demeanor transitioned into one of deep focus and contemplation. She liked reading books. Especially this one. After a few minutes, her phone rang, and she picked it up. Her eyes lit up with what was probably happiness, and she spoke softly, in an enthusiastic manner, with a wide grin plastered on her face. She was so sweet and kind with her words that the heart of the person she was talking to was probably fluttering with joy. Her station came, and just before she stepped outside, her eyes met mine for a brief second. She gave me a warm smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners, her smile lines appearing. She was ordinary-looking, but there was something about her smile. It felt like a bright ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds. There was much more to this girl than met the eye.

-Priyanshi.

Todd Anderson & Neil Perry

“If you die, I’m alone”