Luxury Life

Nikola (45) from Brussels

Sometimes people stop and take the time to talk to her. But rarely – for most people she is invisible. Even if she addresses them directly. Politely, of course, with Madame or Monsieur. They just walk by. As if she did not exist.

Have the employees of the Delhaize supermarket come to terms with the fact that she sits here day in, day out? Yes, what can they do about it. She has nothing left to take away. The few euros she gets together every day are spent just as quickly.

She chose this place because it is warm. And because many people come here every day to shop. Even on Sundays the shop is open. Of course, because Delhaize knows that in a city with so many tourists, people also go shopping on Sundays. But she does not shop here.

Yes, yes, when someone stops and gives her a little something, she appreciates it. They do not have to talk to her, even though that can be nice sometimes. But people do not even care that she is sitting there. And while they have enough money to buy everything, she is afraid of starving. Nowadays that is normal. That everyone only looks out for themselves. Sad, of course. It would be nice if things would develop in a different direction. Still normal and natural for people.

Why should they care about her? In the eyes of society she is a failure. After all, she has not achieved anything, otherwise she would not be sitting here now, do you understand? It is her own fault that things have turned out this way. She does not even want to talk about why she has nothing more in life. It does not matter any more, because that is just the way it is.

Otherwise she does not do much. She sits here almost always. Every day. Sometimes outside in the summer. But not now in winter. It rains too often, too heavily. And it is dry and warm here.

She thinks she knows Brussels quite well. She has been here almost all her life. But she does not know if she would stay here if she had a choice. She does not have anything to keep her here. It is actually more of a routine. She comes here every morning, every single day. And then she hopes for the kindness of a few people. And when things do not go so well, she does not have as much to eat, but somehow she gets by.

She cannot say whether this place is a blessing or hell. Probably a bit of both. Because if the place did not exist, she would not know what to do, but it is also humiliating.

She sits in front of a supermarket, the shelves of which are constantly stocked with all these delicious things. And she understands how much of a luxury that is, just to be able to shop here and take whatever you feel like. The people who go shopping here do not. She does not think they would come here otherwise. Because there are cheaper shops. But why should people care whether they buy a litre of milk for less than one euro or their branded almond milk for four euros? It does not hurt them. They have enough of everything.

So somehow she also hates this place, but she still keeps coming here. What else is she supposed to do? It is her little everyday Brussels.