I tugged my black raincoat tighter to my body, the melancholy rain held a chill in the air.

We were waiting for the crosswalk sign to turn green, there was a crowd of us on the sidewalk with our faces down, conserving something.

Conserving anything.

The mirrored buildings of the city reflected gray clouds in every direction.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Finally, the sign allowed us to cross the busy street.

A little girl with a dim yellow raincoat and small matching boots splashed around in the puddles. She displayed full childish spirit as she ignored her mother's tugging on her arm to make her stop.

As I watched the stark scene, an old man with a bright green umbrella pushed past me, grumbling something about "Idiots" and, "keep acting like", and "just walk".

I immediately recognized that I was the object of his irritation. For some reason, my brain chose to realize that this man wasn't just an eternally grumpy character in a story, he was like me. Living and breathing.

All of the complexities in my life resembled his, he was probably on his way home and would most likely have to deal with about five problems before he even reached his door. He probably had a wife that smelled like fresh banana bread at home. She'd most definitely scold him for being out in the cold as she kissed him upon the cheek.

He was probably a very nice old man, I may have just happened to cross paths with him in a bad mood. It was odd to think that a few seconds ago, I had merely seen him as a passing shape of bent light and nothing more.

Maybe he didn't have a wife. Maybe the only thing waiting for him was a chilled living room and frozen dinners from the store. I can feel my mind reeling with possibilities.

That old man wasn't going to just disappear from existence because I couldn't see him anymore.

I stared incredulously after the man.

After blinking twice, I ducked my head into my coat, jogged across the rest of the crosswalk, and continued my path. All the while thinking about the old man and the young girl who inspired more than just gray boundaries and crowds frozen in time now that I have passed by them.