Imaging

I have had this image in my mind off and on for years. It is of this little girl in faux leopard print coat walking to the bustop to go to school. She is alone because her mom is sick and her dad is busy. She's been seen off by a neighbor lady... But she walks by herself and for the first time ever she feels acute loneliness and deep injury, and there she is walking by herself. It seemed an obscene image to me that a child in that much pain is left to bear it alone. And still go off to life as if nothing was going on in her heart.

This morning my daughter, who saw her mother very saddened earlier, fell by accident, she tripped over a blanket and was unhurt, but her tears were torrential. They were way out of the ordinary, and she cried deep sobs. I picked her up and held her and let her weep in my arms until she was done.