As I was walking the dog yesterday past the middle school, I looked down to find a hand written note. With glee, hoping it was a teenage love note, I picked it up and started to read. Turns out it was not a teenage love note. I think it’s more a love note to freedom, or the pain that freedom costs. I suspect the person who wrote it is one of our many homeless due to its content and as there is a path near where we were walking where I know many homeless find shelter.
So I want you to know that I did not write this but found it moving enough that I wanted to share it with you. And just to keep myself honest, I am embellishing in places because there were parts of the note that I found hard to read due to scratchy writing and some weird grammar…so I’m hoping to keep the intent of the writer’s choice.
“I have been dropped here
I can’t walk long so I sit
At least I breath fresh air
No cars, no smoke
Boots, pants, blanket
Sitting on an intersection in middle of no where
Into past or present
Not like the cars
Smell of smoke makes me sick
Hospitals make me sick
Any place that carries sickness makes me sick
Do not know where to go from here
I am a free soul
At least I have empathy for my own soul
I am confused about place/time entity
Not wanting to be in cars or places
I do not know where to go
I only want to be free of sickness
In the middle of nowhere
The man left
The cops came
I know that is not safe
I want to find a place
Where it’s not that far or a while to walk or stay the night
Without losing reception or being in the middle of nowhere
I had a car
They took it
I don’t have ID or anything to prove my identity
I am here in this place one more time
Asking for help”
-Unknown
thanks again to chatgpt for the image
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