The Man in the Dark Green Hoodie

     Sometimes, I like to write about things other than army coats and bar stools. Sometimes, grown men don't abandon women at restaurants at 2am and leave them to walk home alone. Sometimes, men hold their hand out to a woman and, when confronted with their own vulnerability, admit to it instead of telling the woman they imagined it. Sometimes, I learned tonight, that there are men who will meet a woman in the dark halfway so she doesn't have to walk home alone. I know because one met me like that tonight.

     He surprised me with his unexpected kindness. I shared my vegetarian egg foo young with him once we got back to my apartment. He liked it. Of course. Vegetables are good for you. He even braved what he calls "Crack Ridge Alley" to walk me home. Sometimes, men do thoughtful things and it was nice to feel extra safe for once. Quiet heroes are tall too, like the men who wear the Army coats, but they can also wear over-sized, green hoodies and sweatpants and smoke American Spirit cigarettes in the dark green box: not the turquoise one. Life is surprisingly sweet at times.