Grimy Graffiti
April Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Graffiti & Street Art”
I saw a future without you.
When I first visited Manchester in England, I was shocked at how murky and ugly so many of the buildings were, even in the heart of the city.
Despite all the quirky cafes and art supply stores, Manchester has never shaken off its history as the first industrial city in the world.
Britain once produced half the world’s cotton cloth without growing a single scrap of the plant, with 108 cotton mills in Manchester at the peak of production.
The city is now considered to be one of the most deprived areas in the UK.
Ghosts of more affluent times haunt the streets and their inhabitants.
In the middle of all this dirt and despair, I was captivated by the expression on this woman’s face. It’s a bit inscrutable — like the Mona Lisa you can’t tell if she’s contemplative or truly sad, but unlike da Vinci’s muse, she is staring off into the distance, not towards the observer.
I was dating a guy a lot younger than me when I visited Manchester and I have fun memories of our time together. But I knew even then it wouldn’t last.
I saw a future without him as clearly as if it were written on a wall.
This photo story is in response to the “April Six Word Photo Story Challenge.” Thanks, Mary Chang Story Writer!
