I watched a man today riffling through trash. Searching for plastic to weigh, he was in luck, but it would be well earned. The bins he churned collected a uniquely disgusting sort of refuse. This was truck stop trash: bottle full of piss and tobacco spit, bags of literal shit, countless cigarette butts and rotten food. In the strewed garbage he assessed his hope. He gathered his purpose with a grimace and placed his disappointment back in the bins, respectfully. As if to acknowledge no one would know he was there anyway. And no one would care, anyway. Then he looked up as he finished his task and our eyes locked. Most would turn away, hoping it'd pass. But I did not pretend. I glared in concern and he stared back like a friend. He smiled and nodded, I nodded back. His eyes told me he did not want my pity. His furrows told me he did not care being judged. He then tied up his ego stuffed in a sack. He got on his bike and rode off with his pride held intact, tossed over his shoulder to ride on his back.