Outside the station, she stands with her child on the side of the street, taking pictures of cars.
You think she's insane. Until, one day, you notice that she's taking pictures of the license plates of the cars her child gets into.
Because you look. But you do not see.
And she walks out the shop with bags full of cat food. You think she's some crazy cat lady until you find out, she has no cats.
Because you eat. But you do not taste.
It's been a while since their last album but he assures you, he's doing just fine these days, white flecks in his nostrils. Then he asks you if he can spend the night on your couch, even though it stinks.
Because you sniff. But you do not smell.
And they say "Just OK" when you ask them how school was. Then you wonder what they're hiding until you find their diary and the last entry reads "I wish you'd give me some privacy."
Because you listen. But you do not hear.
And they've got a bruise over their eye and you run the tips of your fingers over it and ask them how it happened. You believe them. Until it happens again.
Because you touch. But you do not feel.
And they walk past you everyday, one million stories, each waiting to be told. Waiting for you to ask.
Because you live. But very few, love.
Iain...friend...
ReplyDeleteThis is truly stunning. Such a well woven story-you've outdone yourself, man.
<3 Lief, dear buddy. Lief.
E
goosebumps.
ReplyDeleteamazing. thank you.
ReplyDeletewow
ReplyDeleteReally felt that one. So much we can do better.
ReplyDeleteI have no comment that would give this post justice :0
ReplyDeleteoh my. this is so deep. i don't even know what to say.
ReplyDeletethat was so intensely beautiful.
thankyou for writing.
wow.
ReplyDeletebrethtaking... theres nothing else to say.
Oh, my gosh. Breathtaking <3
ReplyDeleteOMG I love this post! May I put/mention/share it in my blog please please please? I promise will give credit back to you.
ReplyDeleteI hope you know I listen when you talk and then analyze it all in my brain.
ReplyDeleteI hope you listen back.
Loved this Iain :)
Of course you can but yes, I appreciate being credited <3
ReplyDeleteHauntingly beautiful. A profound realism, if only people would love. (Hugs)Indigo
ReplyDeleteI'm a long time reader but I've never commented.
ReplyDeleteI've neve commented because I never knew what I could say to any of your posts that would do them justice.
And what is say now still won't do justice but I feel the need to speak.
This post astounded me. In ways I don't even understand. So I'll forego explaining them.
This post is the reason I believe everyone deserves a smile and a second chance to make a first impression.
Some tines even if we do hear, we still never know/hear the whole story.
Sorry or the long windedness fo this but I had to comment.
Thank you
I love this. Completely amazing.
ReplyDeleteEverytime they argue, she digs up past accusations of dalliances that had gone undenied. She thinks it's guilty silence. She does not realize that he holds the same wistful look everytime.
ReplyDeleteShe says she will forgive, but she has never forgotten.
as easy as it is for me, life is getting too hard.
ReplyDeleteThank you, from the bottom of my heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
love,
Lan
This gave me the chills. I absolutely love it.
ReplyDeleteThis gave me goosebumps. It was amazing. I hope people read this and show more care to others. <3
ReplyDeleteThis gave me goosebumps. It was amazing. I hope people read this and show more care to others. <3
ReplyDeletethis makes me want to be a better person. thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteI got goosebumps. This is...wow. Amazing is an understatement.
ReplyDeletewhoa.........
ReplyDeletei'm blown away.
You made me smile, breathe deeply. But most of all you reminded me of what it is to appreciate lain.
ReplyDeleteYou've changed my life in so many ways, you will never even begin to know. Thankyou.
This blog is my best kept secret, closest to my heart.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that sometimes we read but do not understand! Great post
ReplyDeleteDid you know that you are changing lives with your posts.. all are magnificently written. Kudos!
ReplyDeleteyes, the only way it can be explained.
ReplyDeletethis is an amazing post. you could not explain human apathy more clearly and vividly.
ReplyDeletethank you. for being you. and doing what you do.
WOW!!! purely amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt is safe to live, and dangerous love. Easier to live in denial then understand what we must do.
ReplyDeletestunning!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for this ;D
If I only knew how to write like you... I would be one lucky bastard. (':
ReplyDeleteI so love this! (=
ReplyDeletePlease may i place this on my facebook along with your name, as I feel the need to let my friends understand the injustice they doing to themselves by not reading your magnificent works.
ReplyDeleteThis made me cry. Wow.
ReplyDeletethis was wow...i loved it...by far the best for me!
ReplyDeleteI am crying. I loved this very very much. We need more people like you in the world.
ReplyDeleteYou're an excellent writer. I love how you own your words. Thank you.:)
ReplyDeleteKatrina is totally right about having more people like you.
ReplyDeleteAnd you have no idea how glad I am that I find this marvellous place like your blog. (: Now I don't understand why people even think about reading mine. :D
You seem to be like me in some aspects. You use your life like you want it and there's nobody who can ruin your dreams. (:
Don't ever let them take you down! <3
This is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteMy mouth truly fell open as I read these words.
ReplyDeletelovely :)
ReplyDeleteif every word in the english dictionary would be enough to explain how good this is!
ReplyDelete"Because you listen. But you do not hear."
so so beautiful. i shivered at the last sentence.
ReplyDeleteThat was...amazing !
ReplyDeletebrilliant.
ReplyDeleteStarting to read all of the other posts on here. You, my friend, have a gift. You are simply amazing, and I am so grateful that you take the time to maintain this beautiful blog. Thank God for people like you who
ReplyDeletetruly see
truly hear
truly feel
and, truly live.
May whoever holds your heart, know what a treasure you are.
x
FF
goosebumps...
ReplyDeletethis is #1 in my favorite blogposts list.
ReplyDeletebeacuse i was trying to figure out a simple summary of 'living'. because for me,this post is it, the answer to life,universe and everything,if there is one, or atleast a pointer to it. :)
i love you i love you i love you
ReplyDeletefor this and everything
Since this place is a place where you can tell stories, I found the post to tell this.
ReplyDeleteToday a stranger´s story hit me. I was sitting in a train station´s waiting room. At that moment there was no one else but a young man who had asked me about the time and whether I know when his train leaves, and we had exchanged some small talk, then fell silent. He was handsome, but I couldn´t work out where he came from, I only saw he was from somewhere else.
And suddenly I heard sobbing. He took out a tissue and cried. I asked him if he was okay. He said no. He told me he was just thinking about his mother. He hasn´t seen her in three years. His parents live in Tunisia and he has no papers so he can´t visit them. He has a two-year-old little brother whom he doesn´t know. He often thinks of his mother and little brother and it makes him cry.
I felt like crying too, but that wouldn´t help him much, so I kept that for later. I searched around in my head but found nothing I could possibly say or do which seemed good enough to make him feel better. So I said nothing except that I understand. I smiled at him as I said goodbye to catch my train.
I´ll most probably forget his face, never see him again or know his name, maybe just sometimes vaguely remember him when snow falls, because today just before this happened, I saw the first snowfall of this winter. But for now I need this to be out somewhere and this feels like the right place or at least as good as any other. If you ever read this, I hope with all my heart that you will see your family again.