short stories

You Sit on the Bench

An old man sits on a bench alone. You are just getting off the train from your home town to New York city. You see this old man and feel like you know him, you can feel what he's been through pain, heartbreak, loneliness. You feel the need to go up to this old man and talk to him. As you walk closer you see his eyes are puffy and red. You sit next to him and look at him. he looks at you but you can't seem to take your eyes off of him your reading him. you think of all the things he could be going through like loosing a loved one or having no one who loves him. you feel he need to say something to the old man. "hello" you say but he doesn't answer he just looks at  you. you speak again, "how are you?" as u say this you see a tear fall from his eye but he doesn't break eye contact with you. he takes you hand, you feel safe. you two sit in silence staring at the people smiling and walking. you think about all the problems in your life and why you left you home town. how you got into a fight with your mom about your dad not being in the picture any more. you feel tears coming but you  let them come. as you turn back around the old man is gone. your hand is still in the shape of when you were holding his hand. you sit there looking around and don't see the old man anywhere. you sit for a little longer before calling you mom and telling her how sorry you are for everything and going home to talk of the old man to everyone who you cross paths with teaching them a lesson that only they have been needed to learn.