The black words were carefully spray-painted onto the cardboard. Instead of saying homeless or donations for a cause, it said: All Emotional Donations Are Welcome.
The man holding it was staring right back at her, eyes glass-like and features blank in a way that looked foreign on a human face.
Today had been a particularly good day. Nothing special, just good. Her favorite song came on the radio on the way to work, lunch had consisted of her favorite food, she was planning on seeing a movie later than night. Happiness and contentment abounded.
Without realizing it, she stepped closer. “What do you get?”
The man’s eyebrow arched, “What do you mean?”
“Emotions. Which ones do usually you get?”
He shrugged, “Disappointment, anger, unhappiness, regret. Whatever people want to give.”
“That sucks. You can only feel what others give to you?”She asked.
A nod.
Imagining life without emotions seemed…blank. Exactly the way his eyes looked. How could you remember things in life without first remembering how you felt?
“Have you ever been happy?”
“I wouldn’t know,”he responded flatly.
Not ever having a good day, or even a bad one. How selfish it suddenly seemed, keeping her happiness to herself.
“How do you donate?”
“You give me your hand and it happens,”he said, “It lasts for a day or two, depending on how strong the feeling was.”
Grinning, she held out a hand. “Go on man, I can always make more.”She let emotion fill her chest like a balloon.
Unable to be surprised, he merely blinked and took her hand.
The change was immediate. His eyes no longer seemed to be made of glass, his features softened and shifted. A smile of his own lit up his face.
She felt a little something leave her, but then his happiness became her happiness and she couldn’t feel the difference.
He sighed, a ragged, breathy sound. “So this is what it feels like.”
“Yep.”
Moving suddenly, he pulled her into a hug. “You’re the only person I’ve met who thought to share their happiness. Thank you.”
“Would you like to see a movie with me?”She asked, “I don’t have anyone else to see it with.”
“I’ve never seen one with a full spectrum of emotion before.”
“You’ll love it. Huge, parasitic aliens, bold action, and Tom Hardy for comedic relief.”
Tadaaa. Story number two is out! Is it a little sappy…maybe, but the brain insisted and I am literally a slave to the brain. I had to include the Venom bit, as I saw it for my birthday a week ago and despite what movie critics say, it was fantastic.
Ciao, until the next one.
Service was splendid.