• The clocked tick away, second by second by second, counting down to 3 o’clock, when I was due to meet Megan. Everything was set. I had enough money in my pocket, and the right clothes on so she wouldn’t spend the entire date complaining about how I looked. I smirked. Oh how she loved to criticize.
    “Nick, you’re hair is a mess”
    “Nick, why couldn’t you get us better seats?”
    “Who is she, Nick? She looks like a slut.”
    But I loved her, and that was all that mattered.
    Out on the streets, the sun was still blazing, full in the sky, though it had already began to fall toward the west. I began the short walk to Megan’s loft, my footsteps echoed by those of the bustling crowd around me, harmonizing with the cars whizzing down the streets. I watched as people passed and lives went on, enjoying them as much as I possibly could, knowing that in less than ten minutes my attention would be trained on Megan. Across the street, the small city park was devoid of visitors, and though the old swings and jungle gym would look inviting to any child, the parties and drug busts happening every other night scared away most of the parents living in the area. Now, during the lighted hours, the parks usual inhabitants were probably still sleeping off their hang over or shop lifting from a convenience store. A homeless man begged from the sidewalk, asking passersby’s for spare coins, and only one considerate man stopped long enough to drop a dollar into the old man’s tin.
    “God bless your soul. You’re a good person.”
    Lord, if only that made a difference. Does god only bless the people with good souls? Then what’s the point?
    Just as the thoughts formed in my mind, a woman staggered out of a small alley just ahead. Probably a drunk, she stumbled before slipping to the ground. A few murmurs passed through the crowd, though I knew no one would be obligated to help the poor woman. I sighed and stepped to the side, making my way over to her. Wavy blonde hair spilled over her shoulders and onto the dirty cement, covering her face. From the looks of her well worn jeans and stained, broken shoes, she wasn’t really well off.
    This stop is only going to only delay me, and I’ll have to deal with Megan later…but it is the right thing to do,” I thought to myself, “I might not be searching for god to save my soul, but I need to do something.
    ~~~~~