About two weeks ago .. .. ..

On another of Leon's chilly mornings I was walking through some of the deep and narrow streets in the ancient part, when from in between the drifting pedestrians my eyes met with the deep brown eyes of a woman similar to me in age, she was sitting on the stone pavings resting up against the wall, with a plastic cup in her hand.
I was not prepared to see her there - her mode and desires were obviously on a completely different level to everyone else around us. 
I felt caught on the spot (in contrast to my many pre considered ideas and intentions of hypothetical circumstances similar to this ....) .... as our eyes met again ... I offered her a smile,  and she gave me one in return.   With which I felt very warmed,  but still prominently unsettled with the stark inequality between our serendipitous paths in life.
My mind went to and fro with the whys and ifs as my feet continued to carry me away and I pretended to look into shop windows.
Each day since ... her smile has been with me,  and I've wondered of her children, if any, and of her life story that brings her to where she is now.
On these icy mornings I've wondered where she sleeps, there are large plastic recycling bins dotted haphazardly about these streets, there's one for paper and cardboard . . . I suppose she shelters in one of them. It's the cosiest available place I can think of.
I've wished I had've been prepared with the things I wanted to say and give and do.  But I know ...this is life ... and they say ... Be Prepared for the unexpected. Which is hard to do, because the unexpected comes in many forms and from many directions. So I ponder more . . . And I realise ....far better than to try to be prepared for the myriad of the unexpected - is to be present to the moment and live consciously.
Still each day I hope I'll see her again.
I keep thinking this time I'll be present to her.
This time I'll be awake and outgoing.
This time I will live consciously.
And not only with her. . .
I know full well that second chances like that rarely come round,  and that there are many many people in her position and worse off too. Yet since exchanging smiles with her something has awoken in me - that has enabled me to touch base with others like her, as well as the usual passers-by etc
Still ... hers was the smile that woke me up - I nick named her my Lady.
I have zigzagged those streets - not knowing exactly where I saw her nor if she always sits in the same place - but I just keep hoping  - whilst striving to live consciously and present to all - wherever I am - regardless.