The cardboard sign slumped in her hands as rain like tears fell from the grey sky. "Anything Helps" the sign read. Yet, car after car drove past without a hesitation. Anything helps, but no help was coming so far today. With each passing car the woman with wrinkled face and hands mumbled under her lips angrily to no one. Her umbrella stood in her right hand like a twisted old tree in an abandoned parking lot. The skeleton of the umbrella that held up the tent that was meant to keep her dry had long since failed as if a metaphor for her life. Anything helps, but no real help was coming. Rain like tears continued to fall.
From inside the coffee shop I could see her when the rain would settle to a slow drizzle. Wondering what her life must be like I considered buying her a coffee. As I stood to walk to the counter I noticed movement in the direction of the sign lady. Turning to see what was happening from my perch I was surprised to see two more people with signs. Another woman with wrinkled face and hands struggled in her wheelchair to make her way towards the umbrella holding woman. With only one working leg the woman in the wheelchair shouted as tears like rain fell from her face. The bearded man stood silently across the street, his sullen eyes shouting what the sign read.
A knot in my stomach formed as wondered what I could do to help. The woman in the wheelchair, clearly distraught, turned and wheeled away as the bearded man seemed to console her. Down the hill they walked as the rain fell heavy on their heads and shoulders. I turned to go to the counter to buy the cup of coffee and the woman moved out of my view. As I opened the door of the coffee shop the cold wet air hit my face and took my breath away. Immediately I lowered my head and pulled my hoodie up to keep me dry. I charged in the direction of the woman with wrinkled face and hands determined to bring anything to help. As I made it past the first row of cars my head lifted to find the woman while the rain like tears fell without relent. The umbrella woman was nowhere to be seen.
