Make Meaning.

Today I was staring at a park bench. Just a simple poorly placed bench that was divided into 3 separate seats on the sidewalk and I started thinking about the type of people in the world. What people would be sitting on this bench?
There is the far right sitter. She cowers to herself hoping her sitting doesn’t inconvenience anyone, keeping all her belongings safely under her feet and keeping her elbows from crossing the line. She does this in the off chance that someone else would want to share this bench with her.
There is the left side sitter. He walked up to this bench and took the easiest first seat that came to him. He isn’t rude, but at the same time he doesn’t think of the inconvenience of someone stepping around him. He makes himself comfortable, but not too comfortable. His elbows might cross the sides; he might shyly stare at the far left sitter, wondering if she would give him the time of day.
Then there is the middle sitter. He has no concern for how he is portrayed. He doesn’t care if his closeness makes the others uncomfortable. Even if he arrived at the bench first he would have taken that middle seat. His personality says that you will notice him and if you absolutely need to sit, you will sit by him. And you will like it. He strikes up conversation to make the situation seemingly less uncomfortable.
Three strangers sharing a bench; as close as possible, yet as unfamiliar as living in the same world allows.
The one weird girl staring at a park bench… hoping someone won’t notice how much thought she puts into breathing each day.