The Last Page

A stranger smiled at me on Broadway the other day and I smiled back at him. This shouldn’t be unusual, but in New York City it is. What made me reflect on this brief encounter was the ease I now feel on the streets. This ease has nothing to do with not fearing crime. I’m talking about broad daylight, crowded-street ease, being able to walk without having any male make comments about me or my body. For years I gritted my teeth walking past construction sites or candy stores. I rehe...