The Anonymous Formula

He looked down out his frosted window upon the Coastal Trail.  At precisely 6:47 each morning she ran past with her great malamute alongside. With perfect fluid motion, his antithesis, she unknowingly tore at his heart.  He couldn’t make out her face. 

For months, he designed the encounter.  They would meet by accident!  He would use her empathy and turn it to love….his salvation and freedom.

It seemed perfect, there she was coming toward Elderberry Park,  He planned they meet at the bottom.  A thoughtlessly tossed beer bottle was wedged in the snow and he hit it with his wheelchair.  Helplessly out of control, flipping on its side and careening down the icy hill finally flipping over the retaining wall, he went face first into pavement far behind her and out of her senses.

For months, the nurse looked at the comatose faceless young man.  She wondered if she had only been a few seconds slower, she might have met him…saved him.   She had no pity.  She thought him courageous, out there on his own without regard to his disability.

He never regained consciousness and died in his own imprisoned mind.  She never had another meaningful relationship.  No man seemed brave enough.