Only Humans

In the morning

he sits in the corner

where he always sits

alone

as those around him

shake their heads

and say

someone like that will never fit in

(later a drug dealer

will welcome him

as he is)

in the afternoon

she falls to her knees

overcome by depression

as those around her

sigh and whisper

that she is simply getting what she deserves

for being the outsider that she is

(later a bottle of alcohol

will make her feel happy

and special)

in the evening

they are worn

and wrinkled

from years

of desperate choices

after midnight

they are flickering images

disappearing

into pools of streetlight

and reappearing

as humans

longing

to be loved