Balcony

"Santiago leaned against the cold, hard iron railing and mused to himself that life would have been better had his support always been this cold, this hard. He drew deeply on his cigarette, feeling the smoke rush into his lungs, bringing forth that warm fuzzy feeling that glazed his eyes and his soul. 'These things will kill you, true, but there are many things in life that will kill you, yet never provide a second's solace' he thought to himself. Below him the square was filled with the weekend crowd. The whole city seemed to have congregated at the square below. Families were out in full force, with their legion of offspring in tow; fathers chasing after kids who were running around with ice cream cones, as if they were jousting lances, hoping to crash them against an unsuspecting and unwilling champion, whilst mothers fussed over the ones who are still too young to take flight. Couples strolled, hand in hand and as they reached the fountain in the heart of the square, the male species would attempt to toss the female into the cold pool. The fairer species would feigned resistance and the male would magnanimously hold back at the very last second, beaming a smile of cheap chivalry. Different couples, the same routine, over and over again. Santiago wondered if that was the formula to sealing human relationships, play acting and a superficial smile, both enough to distract from the truth until the children arrive, providing another long distraction. Santiago took a drag on his cigarette and a question crept up on him, 'Why can't I be happy like those...' his question was lost to a busker in the square who began singing a sappy love song, a song that will fill his guitar case but leave the refrain empty. 'Where do all the solitary figures go on a weekend? Ah yes, they spend time with their shadows.' Santiago loved his balcony. It was a bridge to a world he did not quite understand. Whenever he had too much of it or when he finished his cigarette, he would withdraw into the shady comforts of his domain."
~ The Balcony, Mies Paimio