Reunion

This picture once again reminds me of the value of people’s presence. Now, for the first time after the last bell has rung, alone and calmly witnessing this cold space, I realize again how the memory of people’s presence changes and redefines the meaning of a place in the mind; like a layer of Disney’s colorful land that hides an ugly metal table.

Although those colorful pieces of paper and plastic were patched onto this cold space and hard benches to make us believe, even for a moment, the lie of a second home, perhaps the only thing that sometimes allowed us to forget this forced atmosphere and spend happy moments were a few people among the hundreds in this small community; those friends or the favorite teacher.

Now that there is neither a supervisor nor a teacher to accuse me of distraction, and no bell sound can tear apart my train of thought, I peek outside the window. Through the bars that have been raised to prevent any irrational thought, and through the light shining into my eyes, I recognize the building of Saint Sarkis Church. I try to see more, but nothing else is visible; so again, my attention returns to the empty classroom, to the details on the first bench. There, I look for an excuse for a reunion and wonder if among these objects, something like that empty bottle or crafts might belong to her? To that sweet and absent-minded friend from school days?