After a long, stressful week of completing procrastinated assignments and work, I was just about ready to go home and dive right into the oversized blankets of my bed. It was a Friday, so almost about everyone was in a rush to get home. I had finished my work early at the job I work at on 47th street, so I decided that I would just meet up with my father at Steinway Street. I took the M train uptown. Tired from my week, my mind dozed off as my eyes couldn’t keep themselves open. Woken up by the ding of the subway telling me we were approaching the next stop, I noticed that I had gone 3 stops too far and ended up at 65th street. I could just get on the downtown M train, but I didn’t. I got off the train and received the awful text from my dad that his train is delayed and he doesn’t know when he’ll arrive. What else is new I thought furiously as I was eager to get home.

As I anxiously awaited to go home, I thought I might pass time by just sitting on a bench and reading the remaining part of Teju Cole’s Open City. I changed my mind, and decided instead to just roam around 65th street in attempts to relax and relieve my stress from the week. I walked out of the 65th Street subway station and got hit by the breeze of coldness. Standing there, my stomach ferociously rumbled, telling me it was time to catch a bite. I thought I might be able to find a decent place to eat. Instead, I ended up just ignoring my body’s needs and drinking water to satisfy my stomach. The cold water touching my lips reminded me of the coldness I felt as each drop of rain hit me. I shivered. Should I turn back? I ignored the weather and continued on.

As I was walking, I saw a playground nearby filled with kids and parental supervision. I noticed that the drizzles of rain from the sky and the coldness weren’t stopping these kids from having fun. There, I thought I might go meet some of the kids that were jumping around in the fallen leaves of Autumn. Although I might have felt like a kid, my 18 year old mind told me that this might not be the wisest decision, because of the judgmental society that distinguishes adults from the children. Reason and logic told me that these kid’s parents might not view me as just trying to be friendly, but instead as a creep or possibly even worse. I thought that maybe some day I’ll be able to just relax in a park with no worries and be like a kid again. Instead, I just continued walking and came to the realization that this will never be me again.

As I walked past a few streets, I noticed that I had arrived at a residential area. Old looking buildings, cars parked bumper to bumper, streets lacking maintenance. Based on my own perceptions, I could tell this wasn’t the nicest of neighborhoods. Though this wasn’t confirmed until I heard some yelling coming out of one of the apartments. It sounded like some kids fighting, though, I knew it was definitely a couple arguing for no reason. I thought I might intervene. Should I be a detective and investigate? I ignored my curiosity and my thoughts to intervene. I believed the neighbors would be able to handle it. It wasn’t my place to interfere.

I hadn’t realized how long I had been walking for until my phone buzzed, and I see my last message between my father and I had been thirty eight minutes ago. My dad finally made it, so I guessed it was time for me to go home. I made my way back to the subway station where we ordered a cab and headed home. Already anticipating a harsh week ahead due to a few exams coming up, including my second law midterm, I think it might not be a bad idea to accidentally end up in someplace new, and just walk.