The Kindness of Strangers

by Kathleen Murphey

It’s 2019, and looking at the news makes me despair.

But the kindness of strangers gives me hope and a reason to care.

I was at the hospital today, for linger complications of surgery, chemo, and radiation.

I’m nine months post-radiation, and it may take another seven, if I’m lucky,

to return to a semblance of normal.

I rode the elevator down to the parking garage with a woman

in a wheelchair and her son.

We exchanged pleasantries, because that’s what polite people do.

As we left the elevator, I wished her good luck and safe driving. 

She stopped me, embraced me, and said, “Give me a kiss.”

We kissed, and she said, “God bless you. God bless you all the days of your life,”

and I walked away with tears running down my cheeks.

The state of the country, the world, and even my feeble health, faded away;

hope filled my heart. The kindness of strangers made me feel that way.

* * * * *

Kathleen Murphey is an Associate Professor at Community College of Philadelphia.  In addition to academic writing for regional and national conferences, she has been writing poetry and short stories, particularly alternative fairy tales.  Writing in a Woman’s Voice published “The Frog and the Transgender Prince” (12/6/2017), for example, and both Writing in a Woman’s Voice and The Voices Project have published her poetry.  She has self-published a collection of her fairy tales called Other Tales (available through Amazon).  More information about her, her work, and Other Tales can be found at her Website,www.kathleenmurphey.com.