Redemption

Him

There he stood with his arm over his head, pressed against the sign, while he waited for the bus.

A cigarette hanged from his mouth.

I walked towards him, but maintained my distance, keeping my head towards the ground.

He removed the cigarette from his mouth and exhaled, letting clouds of smoke release into the cold, crisp, air.

I tried to avoid inhaling any smoke but gave up, letting my weak lungs remain vulnerable.

I coughed uncontrollably in result, and tried to use my Hijab to cover my mouth.

He immediately pulled the cigarette from his mouth dropping it to the ground.

He proceeded to stomp on it with his large, leather combat boots.

"Sorry" he mumbled while he tried to make eye contact with me.

I grinned at him.

"It's okay" I replied weakly.

He turned his head away and exhaled.

Moments later the bus approached us.

The tires screeched as it crushed bits of ice beneath it.

I walked behind him patiently and I waited for him to count his change.

"Shit I'm 75 cents short" he said, letting out his unfamiliar accent.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and desperately looked for change.

"Well then I'm sorry buddy but you can't come on" the bus driver replied.

"Wait, I have some change" I replied.

I opened my bag and took the bus money that I had I saved for myself to use later, and handed it to him.

His face lit up.

"Thank you so much" he replied smiling wide at me.

"No problem" I said smiling back.

I remember feeling a moment of regret after handing him the money, because I knew I would have to walk back home in the cold.

But it had felt good to know that I had helped someone.

I dropped my change into the machine and pulled out my ticket, then headed to find myself a seat.

But as soon as I turned around, the bus started to rev up causing me to abruptly fall into him.

He grabbed my waist helping me to keep my balance.

"I'm so sorry" I muffled into his leather jacket.

"Don't worry about it babe" he replied as he pulled me away slowly.

I shyly grinned at him feeling my cheeks turn bright red.

I felt his gaze on me.