Under the brilliant, blazing sun, he realized he was alone. Come to think of it, it felt as though it had always been that way. His speech was often self-absorbed, leaving those around him wondering how there could possibly be any room for anyone else to enter his world.
Buffeted by the wind—though likely regardless of the weather—he remained standing there. Passersby showed various reactions: some exchanged brief greetings, some scoffed, and others offered outright insults. Yet, he never budged.
Why was he alone? Was it simply because he happened to be there by himself, or was it because his words were so solitary? One day, I decided to call out to him.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning,” he replied.
“Why do you always stand here alone?”
“Because this is my position.”
“Your position? What does that mean?”
“It is the place where I cannot help but be.”
His abstract answer left me perplexed.
“All alone? Don’t you get lonely?”
“I often do. Most people ignore me as they pass. Sometimes we exchange a quick greeting, but it rarely leads to a real conversation.”
“Then why not just move?”
“If I move from here, I’ll lose sight of what needs to be seen. And I wouldn’t be able to meet the people who have spoken to me before. It’s because I stay right here that I can encounter those I can truly talk to.”
I couldn’t make sense of it. If there were people he wanted to talk to so badly, why didn’t he just go and find them?
“Is there someone you can only meet here? Are you waiting for a loved one?”
“I am only standing here because I am made to stand here. However, how I stand here—that is up to my own discretion. To continue standing here is my way of being. And yes, I stay here because I am waiting for someone I care for.”
“I see. Do you think you’ll see her?”
“I don’t know. My duty is simply to keep standing here.”
“I see. I hope you meet them.”
With that, I walked away without looking back at his face. He gave a slight bow and continued to stand his ground. Perhaps it was the wind, or perhaps the heat, but for a moment, it felt as though our shadows cast upon the ground wavered ever so slightly.
