She got down from the bus, hair disheveled, probably from the window seat or maybe from dozing off for a bit against the backrest.
She is careful not to put a false step between the road and the last step of the bus and is trying her best to avoid bumping into the hasty pedestrians who quite clearly do not appreciate this sudden pop-up person delimiting their pace.
A few more steps and once she comfortably settles in her pace with the world around her, she looks up.
Almost automatically her eyes crinkle against the rays of the sun and it is then that you see it. In a flash of a moment. In her eyes.
The dawning of awareness of the chaotic world around her, as if a bubble engulfing her has suddenly burst.
As if, she just stepped outside a momentary make-shift world where all that mattered was planting a steady foot on the ground and not stepping on anyone's toes. Nothing else existed. And suddenly that world's gone. But realization quickly settles in.
Her eyes are now un-crinkled. Any remnants of the vulnerability of being caught unawares has left them.
She scoops out her umbrella and takes a step forward.
My car swooshes past her, the signal's turned green.
Although rather an insignificant moment in the life of a daily commuter, this moment caught me, it hooked me. Gave me an inexplicable smile. Inspired me. I shall not reason it. In a world where sometimes you have to work really hard to get hold of happiness, inexplicable smiles are keepers.
So look around. Take it in. Spare an empty moment to be filled.
And when you find your "inexplicable smile" moment, whether amidst a crazy schedule or a busy day, keep it. Let it make you feel good. Just plain good. No reasons attached.
She is careful not to put a false step between the road and the last step of the bus and is trying her best to avoid bumping into the hasty pedestrians who quite clearly do not appreciate this sudden pop-up person delimiting their pace.
A few more steps and once she comfortably settles in her pace with the world around her, she looks up.
Almost automatically her eyes crinkle against the rays of the sun and it is then that you see it. In a flash of a moment. In her eyes.
The dawning of awareness of the chaotic world around her, as if a bubble engulfing her has suddenly burst.
As if, she just stepped outside a momentary make-shift world where all that mattered was planting a steady foot on the ground and not stepping on anyone's toes. Nothing else existed. And suddenly that world's gone. But realization quickly settles in.
Her eyes are now un-crinkled. Any remnants of the vulnerability of being caught unawares has left them.
She scoops out her umbrella and takes a step forward.
My car swooshes past her, the signal's turned green.
Although rather an insignificant moment in the life of a daily commuter, this moment caught me, it hooked me. Gave me an inexplicable smile. Inspired me. I shall not reason it. In a world where sometimes you have to work really hard to get hold of happiness, inexplicable smiles are keepers.
So look around. Take it in. Spare an empty moment to be filled.
And when you find your "inexplicable smile" moment, whether amidst a crazy schedule or a busy day, keep it. Let it make you feel good. Just plain good. No reasons attached.
