Injuries Sustained
The river.
Miles and miles of bridge.
Miles and miles of river.
Then finally Westminster.
I look at my arm, it says Birdcage Walk, a little smudged though still readable, but… I’m not too sure where that is, where I am… I go straight and hope for the best.
Is this the right way? I don’t know but I keep on walking. What else is there to do?
Keep on walking.
Keep on walking.
Walk
walk
walk.
This is tourist terrain. And I am a tourist – lost, unsure, never been here before. I come to a map of the park and I stare and try to figure out if I need to take the second right (so maybe people with hearts don’t always know which turn to make).
I plop the heart down onto the grass.
-Huge heart
-Awww
drift past in the breeze as I move through the green and past the ducks and geese. In the park tourists take sneaky photos of me and I wish I could understand the words they say.
Then Pall Mall where I’ve worked for years.
Good morning…
Good morning…
Good morning…
How can I help?
Good morning…
I’ve worked for thousands of different companies. I can pretend to be from any company you like. I can do the sexy telephone voice and everything. I can pretend to be stupid, I can be disposable and forgettable, just as you please.
I
Cannot
I cannot
Move
Through
Mayfair
Fastnotfastnot fast enoughfinally
Haymarket… too tired… Chinatown… I don’t remember Chinatown… tired and onto Wardour street. Near Hummous Brothers my phone rings – I remember this. I remember leaning my back against the wall, pulling one knee up, propping my heart against this knee then fetching the phone from my back pocket.
A man stops.
He says nothing.
He stands about 50cm away from my face.
I talk on my phone.
He takes a photo of me with his phone.
We nod to one another and then he’s gone.
Up Wardour Street to St. Anne’s Court and then –
-Wow, that’s big, do you need any help?
Really?
-Yeah.
Are you sure? It’s quite heavy.
-No problem.
And I give a stranger my heart.
-Where are you going?
He takes the whole heart into his arms.
Soho Square… where are you going?
-Tottenham Court Road.
Are you sure? You’re not just saying that to be helpful?
-No, it’s on my way.
I love you.
-Did you make it yourself.
Yes. Plaster…
-Like as school, papier machee?
No like in a hospital.
-Oh right! What are you going to do with it?
I’m not sure yet.
-I must have been meant to walk past you.
Yes… yes… you’re like my angel.
-Well, good luck with it.
Thank you.
I love you.
At the gate of the square I say
Here is fine. Thank you so much. Seriously.
-No problem.
He’s gone.
He is gone.
Another man walks past
-Hope you haven’t given your heart away…
No… he was just borrowing it…
-Good, should think about giving it to me.
I definitely will.
Bend my knees and -
I wish I’d asked his name. I’m a fool. He shall forever remain the nameless kind stranger who held my heart in his hands.
- place my heart on the grass, count the injuries sustained
and the obstacles overcome.
