Short stories by a Teen Shadow

Simple Gestures of Love

There was a deafening honk of the over loaded bus that stood beside us. We were about to cross the road. And stuck between a narrow lane of the damaged road, with too many vehicles speeding dangerously and too many people taking up the barely available oxygen from the polluted city air, a sudden thought crossed me, and I questioned myself if I was even supposed to be there.

Thats when she turned around and looked at me.

"Hey, you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah... I guess." I answered with uncertainty.

"So its your first time?"

"Umhmm." I replied.

I was new in the city and had absolutely NO idea about the places, its local language or anything for the matter. I could walk two blocks from home in broad daylight and get lost. And henceforth, what I was doing now was nothing more than pulling a stunt.

The bus beside us moved a little forward, stuck in a jam the driver honked some more . A couple of bikes raised past me. My dress fluttered in the air.
I can't do this.
Crossing the road was like choosing a vehicle to kill you.

"You have been out before right?" She asked.

It had been 9 months since I've shifted here, and it is the first time I had stepped out of my home to travel anywhere other than school.

"No." I replied honestly.
Her mouth instantly dropped open and she stared at me wide eyed.

"So you're telling me that this is the first time you're going out anywhere. "

"Alone and on foot." I added with a chuckle. Her jaw dropped open some more.

"Wow."

"It's the first time, and its with you." I smiled at her.

"Wow.." she repeated.
"Okay hold up. I feel so honored." She said.

I started laughing and she joined in.

"No really Cara, I mean it. " she said.

"Ohkay but you have NO idea how scared I am right now."

"Thats okay." She smiled.
"I'm here."

The traffic had started moving slowly and had cleared a way for us to walk.

"Come on quick!" She said and started walking ahead.

The bus honked again, it startled me and I nearly lost my footing. Cases of road accidents flashed before my eyes. I can't do it. I thought to myself.

And at that very moment, she turned around, she looked at me and gave me a heartwarming smile. I then noticed her outstretched hand.

"Hold my hand." I did what she had asked me to. She then lead me out through the place, out of the traffic and out of the people.

That gesture. A simple hand of help. Had managed to put me to tears. I felt safe. I felt protected. It made me realize how something so tiny could melt people down, warm them for inside. Make them feel loved, cared and protected.

Even after crossing the road, she held my hand as we looked for the bookstore which we had originally come searching for.

Sam had walked straight into my heart. She was there for me. At my first. Even though its such a teeny thing. So tiny that She hadn't probably noticed it.

But she was there for me. And she had made me feel protected and with all this, I realized how maybe, there's so much going on with people around me. More thought process, more care. That simple gesture told me that how the person who lead me was so beautiful from inside. She had become my savior.

And I'm thankful for that.

Author's note:
All I want y'all to know is that everyone possesses a power. Something SO crazy that can change everything for a person and you might never know.
That's Kindness.
Everyone deserves good.
If you're unable to verbally express yourself about how thankful you are, show it to them.
Your every kind gesture can warm someone, make them feel wanted.
Everything affects everything.
So be Kind.
You never know what someone is going through.

Love, Sam.