It was late and she’d been walking home when it happened.
She had just finished another overtime shift at the cannery and was feeling really tired. She wondered whether this kind of work was really suitable for a middle-aged woman to be doing. But then, she had often questioned this, and never got an answer. She had just turned into her street when she caught sight of a young woman standing with her back against a hedge, wiping her face with a tissue. She had obviously been sobbing. She didn’t recognise her, but slowed a little to make sure she was all right. The woman came forward a step.
In a shaky voice, she said, “I’m sorry, I must look pretty silly standing here like this, I’ve just had what was easily the worst day of my life and just needed to… you know, get out and just wander around for a while.” She shook her head with a nervous grin. “It’s OK, I don’t expect you to understand.”
The older woman smiled. “I do understand, dear. Don’t you worry about that. Is there anything I can do for you?”
The woman stepped forward a few paces. With tears still running down her face, she asked, with a sheepish voice, “A hug would be nice.”
So, in a quite unforeseen gesture on both their parts, for a few long moments, the two women stood there in a mutual embrace. For that brief time, neither gave any thought to what brought about what was an obvious cognizance.
The young woman stood back, and with a soft laugh she said, “Thank you.”
She turned and walked slowly back towards the town.
