Heidi’s colleagues gathered this Friday night, celebrating the last day of work before a holiday. As I walked home at 9pm, I passed a vegetable seller on a street corner I regularly frequented.
The stall was open at 9pm, just like it would be at 9am when I more regularly passed. Tonight the woman looked tired, minding her bok choy, cabbage, and scallions under a sole light, shops shuttered behind her along the sidewalk, hoping for a last random sale.
Her eyes were flat, glazed, staring at her phone screen, one 12+ hour day blending into the next. I wondered how many seasons she has worked her stall, sold her vegetables on that corner to keep herself and probably others together?