I was standing at a bus stop
when a loud bang
made me jump.
I recognised it, then
as an exhaust pipe popping
and felt the familiar heat of embarrassment
at the way my body does this.
Over the road
two men
erupted into fits of laughter
pointing
at this girl across the street
who jumped so hard
at a sound which
to them
probably barely registered.
A double whammy
for the sensitive soul.
I don’t mind, really
the way they laugh
it must look kind of funny.
I would choose this again and again.
You might not jump
the same way I did
but did you hear
the sound of that bird’s wings
see the raindrop as it was about to fall
cry in wonder at the touch of the breeze across your cheek?
Love and courage,
Leah
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