Ivory tears fall in slow-motion upon me. A gust of icy wind slams the falling snow onto my meagerly dressed body as it cuts me to the bone. Mist steams forth from my nose and streams between my chattering teeth. Brilliant sunlight lands onto the approaching bus and extends its reach to pierce my watery eyes. The intense beam of light slides across the unpainted vehicle and disappears thereafter. As the mode of my escape approaches ever closer, someone speaks my name. I turn around to look at the source of the voice.

An elderly gentleman with shortly cropped snowy white hair, eyes ablaze with empathy, and a heartwarming smile, greets my vision. After a brief moment, I realize that I may recognize him though I can't place who he might be. He addresses me again as he says, "Please don't make the same mistake that I did."

With my mind awhirl, I reply, "Who are you...never mind, I'm sorry. I need to go now. I can't afford to stay out here any longer."

I turn around on the oak bench and gasp a mouthful of the sky's icy breath. The bus has stopped about 60 feet from my stop and the snowfall has halted. A few drops of snow are semi-shattered in mid-impact upon the bus, cars, buildings, bench, earth, and I. I gently push aside the few snow drops which hang directly in front of my eyes so that I can gain a better look. The flames of realization rapidly melts my shock into acceptance. Time has frozen.

The gentleman kneels in front of me and gingerly shakes my arm as he delicately inquires, "Do you recognize me?"

He peers into my eyes with hope, sympathy, and apprehension shining forth from his. I study his face and I touch my mine in amazement when it dawns on me who this individual is.

He sits beside me as he appeases with a quavering voice, "Don't run away. You've forgotten how much they love you."

He extends his right hand as he tenderly states, "I know you're in pain. Let me help you."

Somehow, I know what will happen if I put my hand in his own. After a few seconds pass, I wipe the few tears which I failed to keep within and I place my right hand onto his. I'm instantly returned to my past.

**To be continued**