"Hang on," I told my work-colleague, then I strode off.
"Where are you...? There's nothing over there! What are you gonna do, get a taxi?"
"No..." I call back over my shoulder; why the hell would he think I was gonna get a taxi? We had like, five minutes to get back from lunch.
I count out pound coins as I walk. 1... 2... 3. I head towards the guy in the red tabard, smiling, "I'll have one!" I call.
He smiles at me, and I wonder how everyone ignores that smile.
How could you?! I've heard of smiles that light up a room, but his lights up the street.
"Thank you darling!" he says, his voice almost a song, "God bless you!"
This is the
Big Issue seller who helped me get through at a time when life was darkest.