Dude is a new dude.

I'd gotten use to Dude being a fixture of my commute to and fro work. Until he wasn't. He disappeared as it began to get cooler. Then it was winter, completely gone. I assumed he was dead. Ironically, some days up until that point, he looked "healthier." On some days, his suntan presented as "glow."

Well, here comes April 2026 and I see a silhouette similar to his but he's leaning 30 degrees. He's atleast 40 pounds lighter. Frail. Hair shaved and grayed. But definitely, him. I can only imagine where he goes in the colder months. Since then, I've seen him most mornings. Same stomping grounds on NY Ave.

He's aged but happier. He looks sicklier but better at the same time. He's seems to settled into his fate. I'm not one to judge.