[01]
i was tired. i was walking home, and mistakenly took a different route than i usually do.
i didn't want to go home. i didn't feel like hearing the yelling and screaming. i didn't want to be in that unstable household.
i stopped walking and looked ahead.
there were steps leading down to the subway and a bench on the other side of the street.
i continued walking, and crossed the street to the bench. i sat down and closed my eyes. i wish i could just fall asleep here.
opening my eyes, i noticed a movement in my peripheral vision, and turned my head. there was a man sitting and reading a book. I don't know how or why he was reading in the dark, but I wasn't going to ask.
i checked the time on my phone.
11:53.
it's almost tomorrow which meant another day of coming home from school and staying in my bedroom.
i would have to get home soon anyway.
i looked at the man again, still reading. he kept checking the watch on his wrist.
a minutes went by and i watched him as he flipped the pages on his book, and checked his watch. i didn't mean to stare, but i didn't want to stop looking at him.
he closed his book and stood up from the bench.
he started walking across the street, but stopped in the middle of the road.
"goodnight."
he proceeded in crossing the street, and walked down the stairs to the subway.