The Healer

Melody

After work I took the subway back to Brooklyn. It was close to 10 pm by the time I arrived but I didn't want to go home just yet. There was a pond at a nearby park, I really love the bench that's placed perfectly underneath a willow tree that blocked off the hot sun during the day. Its a great place to read and smoke. I didn't have much free time, I worked most of the time to pay the rent my parents never did. I sometimes even cut school to squeeze in more hours. However, once in a while be it late at night or early morning before the sun rises I came to the pond. It's the only place I ever truly felt at peace. I sat down on the bench contemplating between opening a book I carried around with me or lighting my joint. All of a sudden my phone buzzed it was a reminder. A reminder that suddenly altered my whole mood. A reminder that the days of summer peace would suddenly come to a crashing halt. Band coming back Friday it read. Jesus... I thought to myself the days of short sleeve shirts are over. I sighed and grabbed the joint and lit it leaning back on the bench letting my arm hang freely enjoying the little peace I had before it would be over. Stuck in my own thoughts I suddenly had a feeling come over me. A feeling I did not care for but a feeling nonetheless that meant I wasn't alone. I turned my head slightly cautious of making eye contact. "Can I help you?" I said. "No.." a boy said nervously, "can I sit?" he asked. "It's a free country", I responded putting out my joint on the bench next to me to establish a clear boundary. And with that there was silence.