Bella at the Avenue

One awakened at predawn, as always. Spouse sleeps in the next room. Lots of caffeine. Doing okay. Tempted to go out on the bus now. Would head to the convenience store next to the walk of shame—that breezeway by the Korean Market where unhoused people congregate along the Avenue.

One saw Bella hanging out, someone known from the halfway house during walk-in service days. She is a good writer, familiar from classes at that facility back then. Bella has faced many reversals since writing class.

Traversing the congregation by the Avenue, or passing them on the way to the unusual spot for caffeine infusion, the writer carefully looked down at the sidewalk, avoiding Bella’s plaintive stare. Her voice carried over the balmy autumn air, proclaiming to her peers an altercation and the police.

One imagined sitting with Bella, sharing caffeine. But it is predawn now, and spouse sleeps until nine.