image: jimieye
“I pressed the side of my hand to my forehead, pointlessly.”
A low sun cast the shadow of Eros[1] onto the pavement towards Shaftesbury Avenue. I sat under it on the steps, cold and sniffing. Looking up, I wondered if this was such a good choice. I turned my gaze across to the north side of Piccadilly Circus. A panel of neon signs twisted and flashed, as if a part of Tokyo had been bolted to the side of a grey old building. Under it, groups of people waited on the kerb as the brawling traffic passed them.
I turned to see Eros’ shadow slash across a woman as she stopped on the pavement a little way down the road. I could see only the sunlit side of her head, surrounded by a cloud of her own breath. I pressed the side of my hand to my forehead, pointlessly, and saw a patch of her cheek and ear under the brightened strands of hair and fuzz on her scarf.
She twisted and bobbed a little as I watched her, then jerked her shoulders as she shivered with a grimace. Her face in the sun at last, grimacing.
I stood up.
On the pavement between us, stray tourists merged and circled. Hurried commuters sliced through them.[2] A group of kids passed me, shouting.
I stepped forward.
Out of reflex and nervousness I broke into a smile. Seeing me, her face softened momentarily, and hardened again. I knew it would never be that easy.
She watched me as I walked towards her, sinking into the crowd. I weaved through them, grateful for the shelter, until finally I reached her, standing alone on the open pavement.
She looked at me. Her eyebrows were arched in scepticism under the creased white skin of her forehead. A gust of cold wind made us both shiver.
I raised my hand and said hello.
‘Hi’ she said, and waited, leaving me to start explaining.
referenced works
- Although popularly referred to as “Eros”, the iconic statue which sits atop the Shaftesbury Monument Memorial Fountain in Piccadilly Circus is in fact a likeness of Eros’ brother Anteros. Not that anyone except the sculptor is that worried about it (and he’s dead, so hopefully he’s not too bothered), but it’s an interesting nugget of fact nonetheless. ↩
- As people-watching spots go, Piccadilly Circus is, for the reason Tim gives here, an excellent one. Fewer more gratifying sights exist than the frustration of a businessman’s purposeful stride by a thicket of gawping holidaymakers, and you too can experience the joy by squinting extremely hard at this fish-eye webcam view, thoughtfully provided by Transport for London. (Ant)Eros is to the right of the picture, and the panel of neon signs is in the middle at the top. ↩
location information
- Name: (Ant)Eros\' Statue
- Address: Piccadilly Circus, London, W1V
- Time of story: Afternoon
- Latitude: 51.50999782583918
- Longitude: -0.1348721981048584
- Map: Google Maps
020 “There’s not going to be enough pavement to go around.”
019 “Then our eyes flicked back together again, and a tear was gathering on her cheek.”
018 “One of them shot me 'die hippy' neon rays from under his star-shaped glasses.”
017 “I often wonder how many of those photographs I have popped up on.”
016 “'Thank you, London!' cries possibly-famous scruffy lead singer.”
015 “Around us, drivers beep their horns and pedestrians trample on my clean jumpers and skirts.”
014 “No chance for bloomers and wigs to outnumber tracksuits - we were on our own.”
013 “Then the unthinkable had happened. We met and became ‘friends’.”
012 “Nothing is forever, to live is to suffer, please give generously.”
011 “The taste is salt water, and the rubbery texture never-ending.”
010 “I pressed the side of my hand to my forehead, pointlessly.”
009 “His voice falters, but refuses to capsize.”
008 “A hollow understanding of togetherness wrapped around everyone.”
007 “In amongst the railway arches and Victorian masonry, the dead spaces remain intact.”
006 “A big scruffy bloke began watching.”
005 “Why did I feel so warm and fuzzy inside?”
004 “I smiled and nodded in an informed and knowledgeable way.”
003 “Bobo-the-hobo, swag, mighty mezz. It's all there right in front.”
002 “To my shame, I realise I am crying.”
001 “Her skirt snaps in the wind like a flag.”
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