For starters, I never said I wasn't an asshole.
When the dysfunctional couple that I passed at Borough Hall entered my bus, I was relieved that this woman/girl/she-person had stopped crying. Not more than 20 minutes earlier, the couple sat on a bench near the door that leads to the Kings County Clerk's office. The male, easily 10 years her senior, sat to her left trying to console her -- but providing her some space. She was not only leaking the tears, she was bawling! No hands to face. She sat somewhat round-shouldered weeping unashamedly.
My guess was that something went horribly wrong in court. Is someone doing time? Did someone get over? Was she issued a fine that she didn't expect?
A few minutes later while I'm waiting for my bus, the same couple strolls past. She's still crying. I thought I heard him say to her, "Why would someone want to..." The rest just wasn't in earshot.
Again, as big-hearted as I can be, I never said I wasn't an asshole. The sight of this woman/girl/she-person crying uncontrollably over a sustained period of time bothered me. In fact, it reached the point of forcing me to sigh and roll my eyes like an eighth grader.
Eventually, the B38 came along and I boarded. Within two stops, the couple boards the bus -- welcome back to the beginning of this entry. Interestingly enough, upon boarding, the woman/girl-she-person was not crying at all. No tears running down face. No redness of face, nose or eyes. Nonetheless, within 30 seconds of taking her seat (the elderly/disabled seats up front) the wailing returns. All those entering after her either see or hear her. Some study her. Others scout for seats with a face a bit too determined on such an empty bus.
I'm sure most of those studies or scouts felt like me: what's her problem, she's just looking for attention, her head is really going to hurt whenever she stops.
One woman who boarded shortly after the crier was an interesting character herself. She initially sat directly across from the couple. She struck me as a cross of trouble-maker and faux-care giver. After asking the male-half of the couple "what is wrong with the child" he eventually said that she was in love.
I got this story off the bus. Strangely enough, trouble-maker, the couple and myself all exited at the same stop -- easily 20 minutes after the crier entered. I have no idea which direction the couple went, but I got the scoop from the trouble-maker herself on her way to visit her mother in the nearby nursing home.
Pain comes in many wrappers. Perhaps love does as well.
