City Cries
It’s just another day at the office. As he arrives into his workstation, he was welcomed by a pile of paperwork on his desk, and a smirk on his boss’ face towering down on him as he sat down. What a way to start the day!
He did not let himself be discouraged by this. He just smiled and told himself that it is still very early in the morning. And it is just the start of the week. He’s got the rest of the week for this.
His smile disappeared after a realization. It is still very early in the morning. And it is just the start of the week. A voice screamed from inside him.
…
He woke up early that morning. He prepared, psyched himself up, went out feeling fresh and got on his daily commute to work. It’s a start of another day and it begins here on the highway.
10 minutes later their vehicle has moved 10 meters. But he was not worried. He prepared, was psyched up and feeling fresh.
10 more minutes later their vehicle has moved 10 more meters. He started to worry. He overheard from the driver that there was a commotion up ahead. This would take forever.
A silent voice inside him sighed in vain.
Ten thousand more silent voices sighed in unison.
…
He always see her on that same bus stop every morning. She rides on the same bus as his. He always try to sit a few seats away from her–close enough to see her face but far enough to not be noticed. He had always wanted to talk to her; to ask her name and get to know her. But he is afraid. So he just sat there looking at her. It’s always been like this eversince.
Today was different. She was not on the bus stop when he arrived. He boarded the bus wishing she was there. She isn’t. Just as the bus is leaving, she catches up. She looks for a vacant seat and found one–on his side.
As the bus moved forward, he opened his mouth to say hi. But the bus honked its horn loudly just in time. He lost courage again. He just sat there beside her silently the whole ride.
…
As he stood there on the roof of that tallest building in the city, he shouted random words of curses and praises to random names of people. His was the only noise up there.
As he look up from the ground, he can only see the man’s mouth moving but no words being heard.
As she look out from the bus window, she can only hear the negotiation talks of the police through his amplifier.
As she sat there on her corner office, she can only hear the music on her mp3 player and see below a crowd of people all looking up.
He cursed her boss in her corner office for firing him. He cursed the lady in the bus who never notice him. He praised the police for trying their best. (He can’t hear them anyway). A voice whispered into his ear. Then he felt he was falling. From silence, the sound of the amplifier faded in. It became louder and louder and louder.
Then a complete silence.
