Almost Warm

I had long since stopped expecting anything from anyone—just getting through the day is enough. But then I met a boy who seems even more lost than I am. We talk a bit. Nothing really changes. But for a moment, the weight on my shoulders isn't quite as heavy. It isn't comfort. Not really. But it's something close.

* * *

We talked more than I expected. Nothing dramatic—just the kind of back-and-forth that passes the time without feeling like a waste. She didn't smile much, but she listened. I think I did too. Neither of us had anywhere better to be. Maybe that's why it worked. Not because we tried to understand each other, but because we didn't need to.