tebili

the little girl stood beside the lamp post in midday. the flower necklaces she was selling in one hand. the other hand scratched at her head. her hair looked dirty. in fact she looked like she hadn't washed since the last rainfall. i'm sure she's a cute little girl under all the soot. it seems she had once swiped across her face and smeared her cheek with something and it had caked on.

it doesn't look like she's trying hard to sell the flowers. probably just holding them for an older kid making the rounds while the stoplight is red. her face doesn't have the look of pain as i had expected. she looks calm, waiting. i couldn't look away.

she had a little dress that seems to have survived her activities quite well except for the dirt. the smoke and moving cars are everyday for her. the sun above beating down just as mercilessly as the rain i expect. i'm on the other side of glass sitting in a bus trying to get home. but i can't look away.

maybe this should be considered as some sort of sin.