Winter coat

the thin jacket
was no protection from
the biting wind
and he shivered
as he stood
outside the newsagents

he missed his
thick winter coat

he cupped his hands as
he lit a cigarette
enjoying the brief burst of
flame from the lighter

through the exhaled smoke
he glanced at an old woman
sitting in a wheel chair
her back was towards him
and she was slumped
as if all life had been
kicked out of her

she was talking to a boy
a grandson
he wore glasses and a scowl
he shouted and
anger flared at her
and she slumped further
one more humiliation
piled on all the others

the boy turned
rushed into the shop
shoulders brushing against the man
briefly eyes met
challenged

the old woman turned slightly
watching the boy through the
shop window
she stared at her own reflection
was she looking back at her life?

the man dropped his cigarette
watching small embers glow
and then fade

he walked away
didn't look back
got into his car
flicked the heating to the max
lit another cigarette
and was gone