A Solemn Event by Karen Sorce

It was a solemn event, but one that mostly went unnoticed by other people.

She stood, holding in one hand something that had been important once upon a time. The other hand held the cold, metal railing.

For a long time, she was a statue, could’ve been sculpted in marble, a beautiful angel.

A chilling breeze came up, blowing her coat’s hood down, pushing strands of blond hair around her face. She ignored them. Ignored everyone and everything. Except for her thoughts.

If anyone had approached her, they might have been able to see the tears.

It was the wrong time of year for picnics and romps across the grass and over the rocks, through the trees. A few hearty parents and children were there, couples huddled together in some places. People were still walking, passing her by on Central Park’s famous Bow Bridge.

She could’ve told them about the history of it, built in 1862, a romantic meeting spot, a place where couples got engaged. Views of the Fifth Avenue skyline. It had been a special place for her, too…once.

She never felt unsafe there, walking miles through the park, watching the birds, breathing in the scents of the trees and grass that was hard to find in the City. The sounds of horses’ hooves as they clomped along, pulling carriages with tourists doing the traditional ride. She always felt bad for the horses. Felt it was somewhat of an abuse of the beasts, though most were certainly well cared for. Just like people.

The traffic on the Bow Bridge quieted. She held her hand out over the water, opened it.

She wasn’t sure which thing hit the water and disappeared first – her wedding band. Or her single tear.