Portrait

There is a girl sitting on the bus-stop bench. Her feet are half out of her slip-on sandals, and she has three large bags on the bench beside her. Her clothes are a little crumpled. She is sitting in a way that is not entirely straight, and her hands on her lap in front of her are half curled, not holding anything.

She is staring vacantly out into the passing traffic. She has been crying, but if anything now she looks somewhat beyond tears. Too tired. For quite some time she doesn't move.

A car passing beeps at her in recognition, and she straightens for a moment to smile and wave at the people in it. Then the smile goes bit by bit and her face empties again.

The traffic passes by.