A day in the life of ...

His feet hit the hard pavement at a moderate pace.  The grunts of impatience though told him it was not fast enough. He could sense the frustration as they sidestepped and moved past him.  All in a hurry.  At the busy intersection he waits his turn to cross. He glances over to his right, people stare straight ahead; many with earphones. He glances to his left; no one dares meet his glance. The light changes and people move swiftly. He lags behind.  He feels each step; the sun's rays dancing on his face; the breeze tickling his nose. Breathing. His pace slows. A few more people brush by. Side way glances of frustration. Down the stairs to the subway. People filing through and lining the corridor waiting for the train. Waiting. He stands among them. A child holding her mom's hand looks up and catches his glimpse. He smiles. She smiles. The sound of the train approaching catches her attention. The train stops and for a moment the people on the inside of the train face the people on the outside. Expressionless. The doors slide open, people rush out and people rush in. Everyone scrambles for a spot. He steps in just in time. The doors slide shut and the train leaves the station. People stare at their smartphones...or close their eyes...or look out  the window to a dark abyss. No words are spoken. No one dares to meet the stare of another...except the little girl. He smiles. She smiles. He makes a funny face. She laughs. She makes a funny face. He laughs. Mom notices and pulls her child closer. The exchange of smiles ends. The stench of loneliness fills the train. How can that be? So many people. So disconnected. The final stop and he exits the train. As he moves down the corridor he sees a homeless man sitting in the corner with a tattered coffee cup in front of him. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out some change. He drops the coins in the cup...then sits down. The homeless man looks at him suspiciously. He smiles. The homeless man apprehensively smiles back. They sit together for a while. A few words are spoken. They get up and walk outside, sharing stories. After a while, he bids the homeless man farewell. He smiles. The homeless man smiles. The sidewalk is less crowded. He walks at a leisurely pace. The street is jammed with cars. Horns blaring. Cars rushing in and out of lanes. Everyone is in a hurry. The only human exchange is that of inconvenience. He arrives at a coffee shop. He smiles at the server. She calls out 'next'. He sits in the middle of the shop...watching. Some are alone. Others are not. Every table is filled but there is no one. He heads out, holding the door open for a woman with a stroller.  The child looks up and smiles. He smiles back. He continues to walk. A city full of life yet so desolate. He arrives in a park and sits on a park bench. Birds sing. Squirrels race by. A stray dog approaches and sits near him. He gently pats the dogs head. The dog looks up and smiles. He smiles back. Dusk sets in. He rises and begins to walk; the dog follows. His steps take him home and to the end of another day. A day in the life of...