but i'm just a little baby

I had a silly but profound thought as I was people-watching in the Old Town of Split.

I was sitting in a courtyard and observed "Spartan" men lure tourists in for photos, and diners perch on burgundy cushions, basking in live music while restaurants extorted them for all their money (15 euros for one glass of red wine).

As I watched, I saw into people (no matter their age) and pictured them as babies, crying for their mothers, or as teenagers, falling in love for the first time, or as themselves as they were then, mourning deeply in grief about someone they lost, or belly-laughing to the point they felt like they were going to throw up, or trembling with anxiety before a big moment that would change their entire lives, and I felt like I almost knew them.

I felt connected to and protective of these complete strangers.