Monday Morning

there is an old woman
sitting to the right of me
looking lost, lifeless, without hope
her wrinkled lids turned down
her dress a faded shade of blue

i notice that she is alone
sipping her lukewarm cup of earl grey
eating her day old scone

from behind the counter someone says “happy birthday”
she looks up but he is talking to someone else
her momentary look of elation vanishes
i realize it is her birthday today
She smiles a teary smile at me

i wonder why she is alone
sipping her now cold cup of earl grey
having finished her day old scone

she slowly rises from her chair
picks her bag up from the floor
brings her empty cup to the counter
tosses her napkin into the trash
walks out the door and heads home