Millie is a 68 year old Italian immigrant and widow. She had one husband, one love. She wears a shirt with tears and bleached stains marking the sign of a hardworking woman who threw out her vanity easily but not this shirt. She approaches Sam with incredulity-what are you doing here? I thought you were living in Winnipeg? Sam once again has the onerous task of telling this former neighbour about the death of her marriage. I supervise her maneuver through these murky waters smoothly- she pulls away at the Band Aid quickly but not flippantly-a style I watch and wonder about for me.
Millie is shocked in a way that must be so painful for Sam. Her expression says ‘this is impossible, not him, not the one I know, not my neighbour’. This is sore because how could Sam not feel again her own shock and sadness as she tells Millie. So many times we had to experience the sadness again as we tell each person. Millie says you are young and strong you will find another man. Her face is grey as she speaks, the confusion and disappointment of the news draining her colour.
All around us life seems happy. Birds are singing and the sky is blue. Happy school children skip down the sidewalk.
This real life moment exposes itself on a pretty corner, on a perfect September day as though it is a pervert in a trench coat. It is dark, surprising and invading.