text: Septembers are beautiful in some places- all the bright fall colors mixed with greens that haven’t yet faded, crisp cool winds, and even gray skies seem comfortable somehow. Not here. Here there are few trees and little grass, the winds are biting, and the clouds above exuded more anger than wistful melancholy. It was the gloom that helped me spot him that day, though. I had gotten off work half an hour or so earlier, and my phone had died on the train home. Not having music to listen to while my mind wandered forced me to focus on other senses instead to take my mind off the cold wind and rain getting through my umbrella and the old jacket I’d thrown over my uniform. There wasn’t much to taste, and the smells of the city were less than pleasant. The sights were boring- the same buildings, unremarkable cars, a few other pedestrians who avoided eye contact- but inoffensive. It must have been the red sneakers that caught my eye, because God knows nothing else stood out. But seeing those, I did a double take realizing they were attached to a pair of legs. I hesitated for a moment, not knowing what to do. Should I leave? Yell for help?Call the police? After weighing my options and deeming every other one unwise or impossible (damn phone battery never lasts a full day when it’s below 50 degrees) I decided to investigate further and make a choice afterwards. It was kind of exciting, after all- bodies show up semi-regularly here, and everyone knows someone whose cousin found one once, but I’d never seen one up close before. It was only when I got within a few feet that I realized that the ‘body’, curled up in the fetal position against a corner, was breathing. This was unusual. Living homeless people were unheard of- between the crime and the food shortages and the climate and a million other things, most are dead in days if not hours. But I couldn’t see any other reason why he’d be shivering in a dirty, rainy alley. “Hey.” I paused. This seemed like a bad idea. But a voice in my head told me to do it anyway. “I’m Sam. What’s your name?” The dark mop on top of his head turned upwards to reveal a boyish, pale face and steel-blue eyes. When his eyes met mine, they grew wide, his back straightened, and his hands and feet scrabbled against the concrete, almost as though he were trying to push through the wall behind him. After a second or so without progress, he froze. The look on his face was nearly panic. I smiled softly and took a step and a half to the side. “I won’t hurt you. You can leave if you’d like.” I cocked my head. “Or you can tell me to leave? You were here first, after all.” That got him to crack a bit of a smile. Just a bit. It was cute, though. “Speaking of which, what are you doing here?” He dropped his gaze from mine and drew in his legs again, his knees poking through the tears in his jeans. His lips fluttered, but I couldn’t make what he said. I squatted down to be closer to his level. “Pardon? I didn’t catch that.” “Was gonna nap.” His voice was pleasant despite his ragged appearance. “That... seems ill-advised.” “‘Sbest place I got.” He shrugged halfheartedly. “‘Less you got a better idea.” It sounded disdainful, almost as though he thought the notion that I would was ridiculous. I don’t know what possessed me to offer. Maybe it was those eyes, maybe it was just how pitiful he looked curled up in the rain. But I stuck my hand out and smiled anyway. “I might.