New York | December
I fell asleep watching a movie he recommended, still recovering from yesterday. I woke up to the sound of drums, and when I went to turn out the lights, my column in the corner stayed lit. It sits in the corner of True North. As I looked out the window, a trio, a skateboarder, a couple of dogs, and a runner could be seen. Out of the corner of my eye, A car sat, lights blinking. I returned to my mailbox, where one book remained. A shelf at its feet. A note on top. “Picture frames” in red. It made me think of something I once heard in the grapevine. “Build to the sky.” … I was in pajama pants with the planets on them. I placed the new shelf in my bathroom and put on some vintage jeans. As I looked at my coats, I realized I’d never gone for a walk in the park so late at night.
Wearing the coat my parents gave me, a small comfort in the unknown, I walked outside. To the right was a black car with blinking lights, and a white vehicle sat beside it. I stared at them as I crossed the street. As I walked to where True North and West had met, a guy in a beanie talked on the phone. Perhaps someone was walking him home! As I approached the park in green suede sneakers, I looked at the people around. Some are getting in their workout, and others are practicing gravity on a board with wheels. I started walking in the 7th lane. I looked up.
First to the moon. Then to the people. Then to the trees. Then to the buildings, and the few lights that were still on. Most of the windows were dark. I wondered if they were asleep or empty. As I walked through True North, I found comfort in the sight of a dog playing fetch with his dad, and catching that made me think of a quote, “When he sees that building, the sight of a building he knows he’s only 10 minutes away from her.” Another dog was on a run with their mother. I heard them behind me as I looked to the dome where the neighborhood church sat West. I stood, once again facing the tower.
A blue Christmas tree could be seen from afar. I stood looking at it before looking to the sky. Directly above, I saw something I’d never seen in New York City before. The natural stars in the sky. Right where True North and West had met, where the Gods of the Sky had sent a wink and a smile, where I asked, “Does that bother you?” he said, “No, it doesn’t bother me.” It was one of the last places in the city where you could look up and see a clear vision of the stars. The sight was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.
I had stepped into the night a bit scared. Growing up, most girls were cautioned about wandering late at night. However, the people in the neighborhood around me gave me great comfort, as did the sight of the stars. As I stepped back, I hoped that the homeless man finding shelter under a tree was warm enough. The air was getting brisk. I stopped by my mailbox once again, trying to figure out what True North was trying to tell me. I looked at the neighborhood bulletin board and realized. There was still chaos in the cosmos. It was about to steal the stars.
