Disappear: Into Shadow

- CHAPTER THIRTY SIX -

Jonathan was twenty seven years old, healthy, athletic and bored. A mid level manager at an insurance corporation, there was no real daily challenge to his job, other than surviving the drudgery and countless piles of paper that came with it. He had just left his girlfriend's house hoping to get home with enough time to make his lunch before going to bed.

Apart from mornings, Jonathan hated few things more than being rushed. Having enough time to make an interesting enough lunch so he wouldn't spend on overcharged meals downtown was important to him. He was saving for a ring and afterwards he knew there would be a wedding and a house to pay for. At this point in his life, every last cent counted. He was feeling trapped in a never ending cycle of not enough.

On the subway station's platform he was lost in his own world, reading a book. Other people milled about in scattered groups waiting for the next train. Turning a page, Jonathan was surprised to feel a hand on his arm. A very dirty, hairy, heavy hand grasped his sleeve tight. Before he could say anything, a voice said, "You must get this man on the train, I have to go."

The young man didn't have a chance to say anything because whoever left the strange man with him was gone. Jonathan didn't even remember if the voice belonged to a woman or a man. He looked down at the filthy hand again. Good thing I'm wearing a long-sleeved shirt, he thought.

Looking up from the hand he saw an equally dirty denim jacket, and a long white cane. The jacket's owner was a dishevelled, unshaven man in his fifties looking past Jonathan with sightless eyes. He smelled terrible.

Oh, you reek! The young man thought to himself repeatedly.

"Sir, I'm sorry to trouble you. Could you help me, please?" The dirty man said.

"Absolutely," Jonathan said immediately. Man, you smell.

"Thank you. Thank you." The blind man rocked back and forth as he spoke.

"Is there a particular door you need to get to?" The young man asked.

"Yes, there is, thank you, I need to get onto the last door of the first car please."

"Not a problem." Jonathan said while thinking, It's a good thing you're blind, because if you saw my face right now... He was fighting a valiant struggle, but body language does not lie. He leant markedly away from this sudden responsibility, but was trying his hardest to smile while grimacing at the stench. Can other people smell you too? Shit, can you smell yourself? Probably not. He told himself.

"If you could lead me there, I'd sure appreciate it." The blind man said. "I'll just hang onto your arm here. Just, don't touch me. I have Tourette's Syndrome."

"Uh, okay." Was all Jonathan managed to reply. What!?

Time was slow to pass as they waited for the train to arrive. It had never passed so painfully slow, Jonathan was certain of that.

The blind smelly man with Tourette's made pleasant conversation, asking Jonathan where he was headed and what he did for a living. It helped pass the time, but Jonathan felt awkward talking about his job with someone who obviously didn't have one and was obviously kept in his place by this condition. He felt guilty for all the things this man didn't have and couldn't ever have. Blind. Tourette's. Obviously a beggar. Smells atrocious. Compared to him you've been dealt a pretty lucky hand dealt there Jonathan, he thought to himself.