Letters you'll never read

You cried.

So we've smiled at each other and I slipped you some money, but today took it all to a whole new level.

You were crying. I couldn't believe it. I decided, just yesterday, to nickname you 'Sunny', first because I don't know your name and secondly, the sun is nothing compared to that beautiful shine in your eyes. But right then the sun had been covered by clouds and you were raining.

I couldn't stand to see you so sad. It ripped my heart out and tore a hole in my soul. To see you cry . . . I wouldn't have considered it possible.

I don't know where I got the courage from. It'll probably never happen again. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, I didn't think it through.

I walked over to where you were sitting, where you normally sat, under the tree, and I stood in front of you. I bent a finger and hooked it under your chin, lifting up your face so that you were looking at me.

"Hey," I said, and wiped away a tear. "It'll be okay." I gave you a small smile and turned to go, but you grabbed my wrist.

"Wait," you said, and I almost died. "What's your name?"

It took me a second to remember. "Patrick."

"Patrick," you repeated, as if trying to see how it tasted in your mouth. Now, I have heard a lot of people say my name. My parents, my sisters, my teachers, my mate Benny at school - but you made it sound so beautiful. "Thank you, Patrick."

Somehow you managed to pack so much emotion into those three words that there was no further explanation needed.

Then I heard the screeching noise of an approaching train and your face fell. "Is that your train?" I nodded and you dropped my arm and it fell beside me. It was so hard for me to turn and jog away. I looked back and saw you watching so I raised a hand in farewell.

I got on the train and peered through the window, trying to find you, but you were gone.

-P.