Walk

I had walked quite a distance from the neighborhood. It appeared small behind me. I hadn’t walked a distance of such measure in recent times, nor had I ever enjoyed it when I had. Sidewalks warped in and out of existence, cars sped by with little regard. They owned the area. My clothes were soaked, they stuck to my skin in an uncomfortable fashion. My feet ached. The shoes I had chosen didn’t fit my feet well, and they were wet.

Thinking of the discomforts I faced only made the journey more treacherous. Looking up, I tried to settle on something to think about. Anything, really. Trees! Trees surrounded all the land our town was made up of. I knew little about trees, I had never thought of them. The world was comprised of many complexities; all could never be explored by an individual in an individual lifetime. I hadn’t thought of objects in their actuality, I had only pondered the concepts which surrounded them. But I had only explored concepts loosely, I hadn’t made any meaningful discoveries, or had any meaningful thoughts for the past year, or perhaps even longer.

At that moment a car drove through a puddle near me. Drenching me in water.

I was wet and worthless. My labor meant nothing. Such a realization brought me to tears, silent tears. The tears warmed my face. I didn’t care to wipe them away, nor did I have any reason to. I wouldn’t hide any misfortunes my mind induced on myself. All I could do was face them.

As I walked, the sky seemed to darken. Not just the sky, but everything surrounding. The sidewalk had dispersed completely, I walked on only grass. Houses were far apart from each other, many had fields of distance between them. I had no idea how much further travel was needed; all I knew was to continue the straight path.

Was I gay? The thought suddenly hit me. I wasn't disturbed or disgusted by his lower half, I was... perhaps aroused? Despite his feminine appearance, I had never thought of him as female. I was attracted to him, the male version of himself. Was he worried? Was he hurt by my sudden disappearance? I hadn’t thought of his reaction. Did he miss me? Would he be there when I got back? A sudden sense of urgency filled me. I wanted to get back. I wanted to get back to him!

I began running. As fast as I could manage. I kept my footing. I didn’t slip along the wet grass. I pushed my hair from my face. Amidst the darkness a fluorescent light shown.

The connivence store!

A smile broke out onto my face, my breathing unsteady, legs aching, feet aching, pains in my side. I had made it! I stepped onto it’s paved parking lot. It was empty. Did people never go anywhere in the rain? Even though I had? I had left my house with purpose! A purpose worth striving for!