Seeking the Shade

Dear Diary:

I was walking in the shade of a two-story building as I made my way to the Kings Highway subway station.

It was hot, 80 degrees, and a few older women on the sidewalk had their umbrellas out. I ducked out of the way of one of them as I tried to share the shadow.

As I waited at the corner for the light to change, I stepped into the sliver of shade provided by the light pole. It didn’t protect me much, but the clouds didn’t either. When the light changed, I lifted my foot, unsticking my sandal from the sidewalk.

When I got to the station, the F train was just pulling in. I sat down and my skirt stuck to the back of my thighs. The air conditioning chilled the sweat on my elbows and under my knees.