It was 10 years ago, and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong
I rode on a train leaving Chicago for home
With the world at my feet – a new job, new location, new home,
"New", seemed to mean Nothing.

Nothing could shake the depression
I stared either straight ahead or down at my knees, dumbfounded
And I was actually addressing it – the depression
Actually contemplating why I was so unhappy.

He could tell, this stranger sitting next to me
An older, working man, wearing a white T-shirt
He spoke to me as if to try to get my mind off of me
He knew I was depressed.

So this mid-fifties, blue collar man is complementing my home town
He seemed to care about me. How could such a good guy be so down?
I didn’t tell him that there was a hole in my heart
That I never knew what it was like to feel loved
Could not tell him things I had not yet figured out
I only felt moved (and a little uncomfortable) that someone was showing me concern and kindness.

I live 3 states away now, and am 10 years older
The hole in my heart is still there
Self-affirmation is beginning to put layers over it
Some day, there will be enough layers that the hole will be a distant memory.

Thank you, old man
Some day I hope to have a chance to do the same
For some younger person
Struggling with a hole in their heart.