In March, I started a new job. I've driven the same route to that job everyday since the beginning. A few days into that job, I began noticing I saw the same young woman walking every morning on my way to work, around 8:00 a.m. She walks a route that includes two streets I drive on, and I would see her on various points of that route depending on how early/late I was that day.
When I started in March, she was noticeably pregnant. Not "possibly pregnant, but maybe just had a large dinner last night," definitely noticeably pregnant. Belive me, I know the difference. After I realized she was walking every day, I silently applauded her effort. She must have been getting to uncomfortable stage, but yet she was walking. Rain, snow, hot, whatever. Every day.
Some times when I wouldn't see the woman until I turned on the side street of my office building, I would briefly wonder if she had gone into labor. But there she was. Walking. Sometimes I would see a guy walking with her. Not every day, but some. It was strange though--whenever he was there, he was pushing a stroller. An empty stroller. Like he was practicing for the baby coming. It was kind of cute. But mostly weird.
She was noticeably pregnant in March, I originally guessed eight or nine months. But then April, May, June, and July rolled by and she was only getting bigger. So she was either 12 months pregnant, or my original guess was a little off. I went on vacation the last week of July, and I wondered if she would have the baby in my absence. But when I returned to work that Thursday, there she was--walking a little slower than usual, definitely more of a waddle--with the man and the empty stroller in tow.
Some time during this week, she disappeared. I don't know what day I noticed exactly, noticed she had missed consecutive days of her walk. I really hope that she had a safe delivery (13 months of pregnancy can't be enjoyable), a healthy baby, and that her male companion is her husband and they continue a very happy life together.
I wonder if I'll see them walking again in a few weeks, with a baby in the stroller this time. I wonder what they named their baby, if it's a boy or girl, how long she walks every day, and so many other things that are really none of my business.
It's funny how much this woman has touched my life--without ever speaking to me or showing any interest in my life whatsoever. And I wonder if maybe, just maybe, I've touched someone's life without knowing.
Or how many more lives I could touch if I were more intentional.
