By Vanessa Vanaria
The quiet and mellow hum
Of the old neon
sign is heard outside. The clock ticks
With its hands growing dauntingly slower.
People walk in with the
Familiar sound of the bell
chiming, but no smiles attributed to the sound.
Faces are dull,
lips curled downward. Scowls are worn
like permanent masks.
Winter is cold but
People are colder.
I greet customers with hopeful smiles only
To receive daggers
In return. The emptiness
Swirls inside me
Like a cavern. I watch
As a couple argues. Their
Voices clash and vibrate against
Each other. Neither’s ears
Pick up on the waves
of sound. A child with
Strawberry blonde hair,
Sniffles quietly. Her eyes
Look more tired than
Any adult. She trails behind
The arguing parents.
A bottle of alcohol is
Shoved towards me. I ring
Up the item for them
To pay. The cash is crumpled
And the man’s fumes
Fill me with grief of
A lost soul.
The child looks back
As they leave. Her eyes
Were dimmer than
The winter sun. As I return
My gaze to the steady yet hauntingly
Slow clock, I hear the
Bell chime yet again. I await the
Typical walking hollow shell,
The remnant of something
Once human. Instead
My eyes lock onto
Something I had once
Forgotten. Nervous smiles,
Looks of fondness, gentle
Brushing of hands against one
Another. Young love was
So fragile and rare, making
It all the more precious. Hope
Was something that was planted
Inside of me at that
Very moment. I didn’t believe
It to be possible during
The frigid and unforgiving
Winter. My withered
Heart had been watered
By two young innocent lovers.
They approach me
And the boy pulls out
A nickel and an orange
For me to accept in
Exchange for chocolate, which
Was worth a dime. The
Boy’s eyes are silent
But pleading. I look at the bright
And vibrant orange, holding
It in the palm of
My hand. It felt like I
Held the sun itself.
I merely give a simple
Nod of understanding, but my eyes
Conveyed a million words. I wanted
To thank them. Not for anything
They did, but simply for
Existing. People were not
Often warm, however, these
Two had given me
Faith in life itself. The boy
Leaves with his date,
Exchanging secret
Glances of affection, eyes
Brighter than starlight. He gives
Her the chocolate as they
Leave. It was likely his
Last nickel, and it was meant
For her. As I was left to
My solitude, I smile
Softly. I peel the skin off
The fruit, it’s citrus smell
Was tantalizing. It made me crave
Summertime and warm breezes.
I taste a slice of the orange,
The aromas and flavors dancing
And swirling through my
Senses, overwhelming me with
A sense of longing. It tasted
Like rays of sunshine, of birds
Chirping, of bicycle
Rides, of blooming flowers,
Buzzing bees, and
Warm love.
Velocity 
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