Page 36 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 3 #4

hammed said. “Sometimes,” I said as I rested
my hand on his shoulder, “sometimes it takes
time to grow up.” The conversation ended
shortly after that, and he and I sat, huddled
over our coffee, sharing the silence together.
“So why are you selling the business?”
“I need a change, my friend. I am selling the
house too. Everything. My wife's father lives a
few blocks from here and we will move in with
him for a while.”
“What will you do?”
“I don't know. Nothing for a while.”
“I understand.”
“The memories. I can't stand them any more. I
need to get away from them.”
“I know.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Nothing. There is nothing anyone can do.”
I put my hand on his shoulder.
“We are here for you, my brother.”
“I appreciate that.”
“If you need anything, please call. I will stay in the facts and pushed forward towards Bleeker.
touch.”
“Thank you. It means much to me.”
“In Hebrew, we say shalom. In Arabic, is it
Right: A man sleeps on the subway. Like many New Yorkers, he woke up auto-
matically when the subway reached his stop.
36 | New York Chronicles 2013
salam?”
“Yes.”
“Salam, my brother.”
“Thank you. Thank you. It means much to
me.” He out the palm of his right hand over his
heart and bowed slightly.
I didn't want it to end this way, but I had no
idea what else to say. I really cared. Deeply.
And I pained for him. If I could have I would
have wrapped my arms around him and held
him close to me. But across the counter, there
could be none of that.
I brought my hand over the counter and
pressed the palm of my hand against his shoul-
der. “Salam.”
I turned to JD and motioned towards the door
way........... As much as I could I pulled my foot
up the small flight of stairs to the street be-
yond. JD wanted to know what was going on
but I preferred not to talk about it. I gave him
It was warm for an October nyght in the Vil-
lage. Not that I minded. It was a way for me to
forget........
Aimlessly leaves scatter across the side walk.
Beneath the paling of the street lights the nyght
fills with voices and people and memories.
Blackened the sky shrieks in its sadness and
no one save me can hear her cry out. Dance the
shadows restlessly around the feet of strangers
that walk over the face of the sidewalk. Nyght
has come to the Village. ■