The sun is spreading its orange gleam all around. And the wind, singing through the trees, eagerly announcing the arrival of spring. The gloom and grey have gone, but only after making me familiar with a ‘stranger’ through my kitchen window!

****

Recent Winter
The warmth of my blanket wanted to embrace me for longer, but I readily rolled out of the bed.
Why wouldn’t I ?
I wasn’t alone after all!

While the world slept deeply, there was someone as wide awake as I was, across from my building. My kitchen window opening onto hers.

The glowing white light in her kitchen contrasted with the early morning darkness outside making her prominently visible, just like a tiny star that twinkles brightly against the black sky.

She was not so distant that I couldn’t notice a human moving around, yet not so close that I could recognise her face.

Each day, she appeared wearing a pink hoodie. Perhaps it was her winter comforter and an identifier for me.

One such mornings, while I eased my shivering body with a glass of warm water, I saw her looking towards my window. Maybe, she was watching me! It was our first glance at each other.
And in a flash, we both turned around, busy doing our chores.
Did she register my presence, as I did hers?
I felt seen and acknowledged, she must have too.

It’s been four months: winter has gone and spring is joyfully dancing, I still don’t now her name. I don’t know how she looks, apart from her pink hoodie. I don’t feel I need to. If tomorrow we cross paths, I wouldn’t even recognise her.

Yes we are ‘Strangers’. Distant and unfamiliar, busy tending to our small worlds, but sharing a tiny part with each other, unknowingly yet in awareness.
These everyday unacknowledged rendezvous have brought me a ‘strangely familiar companion’.

Here’s to the seasons ahead and the shared mornings they bring!

END OF ARTICLE