The combined fans in my room drone on consistently, the sound drifting over to me and playing with the edges of my ponytail. Contacts sitting by my bed in their solution, my eyes glance at the paper in focus and then blindly at the shapes whizzing past my window. I know that they are cars and I know there is water glimmering and reflecting the lights of the city. I know there are trees and I know there are stairs of stone, some steps crumbling, that lead into the river. There is probably a groundhog family nestled in their hole, surrounded by leaves cascading down the hillside. There is probably a man laying under a bridge, grateful it isn’t raining. Maybe in the morning, he will walk into the city, his face toughened by the sun, his beard long, his eyes shining like the stars. This man may walk into the city, breaking bread at a community meal, saying hello to the regulars or staying silent. This man may walk into the city, wandering until he finds a place to stay for the night, be it shelter or sidewalk. This man may be given a small card with a light blue logo and 3 numbers. If so, this man may find a payphone or use his cell phone to dial those 3 numbers. A woman may pick up and say “PA211. May I have your zip code please.” And he may say that he doesn’t have a zip code, that he’s homeless, but he’s in the city. And she will try to the best of her abilities to give him a number or two that will listen to him and give him shelter.

That woman, who he might have said thank you and have a blessed day to, will not know the rest of his story, but will turn around perhaps with a smile, perhaps with a furrowed brow, her mind on the man who called when she hears a soft knock on the door and I will come in, ready to relieve her and listen to the people with stars in their eyes and the moon on their cheek.

2-1-1 is a national number that anyone  can call if they need help paying rent, utilities, prescriptions or need a referral for shelter, food pantries, community meals, clothing banks, lawyers, mental health services, and more. The 2-1-1 call center that I work at also provides emotional listening support (not all of them do) for anyone who needs to talk. Our listening service is non-judgmental, confidential, anonymous, and 24/7. Just dial 1-800-932-4616.