Witnessing a Breakup, 5:57 AM

Got up early today, so I could make it to work earlier. I’m heading to Columbus, OH, to attend a farewell party for two great folks – Megan and Jim Fox. Lots of pics to come soon, the bulk of which will be drunken writers with a cookout theme. :D

As I woke up, I heard the sound of someone crying softly. My windows were wide open, and I snuck up to the curtains and peered out. I saw a woman dressed incredibly well, crying as if something were causing her physical pain, someone leaning forward, clinging with both hands to a metal fence. About 50 feet behind her, a guy was standing by a car, near the driver’s side. At first, I thought he, like me, had noticed this woman suffering and was just trying to assess the situation (I thought she was hurt). It took a few seconds for it to register in my sleepy head that they were breaking up. Ouch!

From the looks of things, they were out all night somewhere… she seemed way too dressed up for 6 AM. But then again, he looked rather casual. A bit confusing. The two of us (me and the guy) watched the woman semi-walk/semi-drag herself down the street. After about 30 seconds of watching her walk away, the guy got into his car and drove off in the opposite direction.

Very strange way to start the morning. It’s weird enough to be privvy to something like this – and I imagine I’m the only person in the world who saw this incredibly emotional and personal thing happen. It’s like I participated in the lives of these two strangers for a brief moment, and got to see something incredibly intimate.