The cold air slapped my face as I shut the hotel door behind me. I wanted to take a late night walk to explore the city. Going down the wonky concrete stairs I made a right turn using city lights as my navigational stars.

As I made my way through the food market the fragrant aroma of the stalls filled my nose with spices! As first it was so strong I coughed a few times but once I acclimated I was able to appreciate the flavors! There was so many spices! The chilli, turmeric, coriander powder, even hints of cinnamon topped of with the sizzling bay leaf’s got my mouth watering! I was still full from my dinner so I kept walking to see what else the city had to offer.

I end up making my way into the fashion bazar, the dangling jewelry makes the sounds of wind chimes. With every breeze it turned into a musical! The moonlight shines off of the sparkly outfits. In the back of one store a blue shirt caught my eye. It was a baby blue shirt with embroidery that was dark navy blue. The design was 2 sections on going down the left and right side, vertical wavy lines with patterning in between each line. Something about it reminded me of the ocean. I went ahead and bought it from the older gentleman sitting in the store front.

I then made my way to what looked like a street musicians circle. There was so many people dancing and singing. It felt like I was in an outdoor dance party. Some people looked to be dancing so much that they didn’t even seem to be bother by the cold! It was such an exciting moment. Despite the bitter chill there was people out enjoying it almost as if defying the law of nature! Saying no to the cold confining them to the indoors.

It was starting to get late so I made my way back to the hotel. By the time I unwrapped my layers and threw myself in the bed I was ready for a good night’s sleep. As I beginning drifting off I was thinking of the best parts of seeing a new city and how I was able to see them all on my walk earlier. Good food, good cloths, good culture!

The wind blows in my face as I look around… I can hear tree branches creak and rustle The echos and howls of the creatures in the night There is no traffic in sight

I can’t see what’s in front of me, not my hands nor my feet…the fog makes it seem like there is no road or sidewalk or…anything

Where am I? I start to think. What could I use to protect me? How did I end up here?

My feet are shaky and I almost trip The horrors of this place only got worse…. I get shivers down my spine with every crunch of the leaves

Just then, I hear a weird buzz and I see something brown, white, and…green as I get closer…. Each step I take, it made me wish the ground would swallow me whole….

The buzzing gets louder and it eventually turns into growling…and then howling Perhaps it’s a dog or a wolf?

Nope, something much worse…. Who was this creature? Why was I here of all places?! When would I be back home with a fire going?

This monster looked at as if it had three heads and many feet, I can hear slithering and I saw some sort of sharp objects on one of the heads….

I wonder if I went back, I could escape, so I head in the direction I came from…I must’ve ran for one or two minutes before I stop and catch my breath….

I look up…and there’s that monster again. It’s big and it looks furious, as if he was mad that I was afraid. “What do you want from—“

I know not where I wander. Though, I can’t help but wonder If whatever called me, mysteriously Is also leading me to my destiny.

People tend to call me optimistic, Overly, specifically, that is, I don’t disagree. I see opportunity With every step, everything I see.

I wonder what these people who pass Surrounding my left, right, and fourth wall glass Would think about my journey here, My destination, to nowhere, yet everywhere.

Most who walk these streets would stress, Feeling overwhelmed by the crowds, pressed, Pushed around and seemingly getting further From their goal. Wound up in a chaotic blur.

I feel the neon signs and the massive crowd Guiding me towards my goal, clear and loud. What it is, I don’t know, But wherever I’m pushed, I will go.

Lights glare in a noir sector of a foreign town Dark thoughts intrude as the atmosphere surrounds No map no sense of direction yet the path is clear Motion blur with a destination unfound In my skin but out my mind On the clock but out of time In the wind while I unwind Around the block and so benign Sublime internalizing my exterior Surreal yet out of control but not inferior Imperial dreams lucid and liquid Yet black and white as it’s depicted Stagnant although unrestricted Vividly unequivocal although physically constricted Headed to a place where I can’t revisit

As I walk down the busy street I look around the chaotic city Lights surround me so beautifully Green lights send cars speeding by me I stop and look at the people carefully Each one has a different story I don’t stay long I must hurry Must get home safely So tomorrow I can see the busy city

In absence of the sun Where only streetlights glow Your feet feel smaller here The world begins to grow

You are but a tiny speck In a monstrous cosmos You can feel it as you move Through the sludge of dirty snow

Skyscrapers tower over As they do during the day But even the carts of vendors Seem larger in a way

Your shadow is so tiny In the clock-tower’s watchful eye Its midnight ticking a reminder Of your microscopic size

In the daylight you have power That in night you can’t control As the vast expanse of city Opens to swallow you whole

It was Jan 8th and my family was moving to another city, so we moved in to a questionable place called Detroit.later after we was done packing it was 9:54pm so we got some rest, later that night I woke up to a disturbing noise, I thought it was nothing so I went back to sleep, I soon later woke up again to a startling screeching noise, it freaked me out so I went to tell my parents about it. I was in there room and woke up my father, and I told him about the screeching noise and he said it was a raccoon, but I knew it wasn't a raccoon, sounded like something I've never heard before. So I whent back to bed, within a short time I woke up once more to a uncanny yelling, this time I knew it wasn't a animal, it wasn't even human. So I then went to my parents room again, keep in mind it's a two story house and my parents live down stairs. I was on my way to my parents room and the door busted open. There was nothing there I could see with my bare eyes and I started to tremble. I then went back to my room, finally decided to go check on my parents, I made it down stairs and on my way I looked at my dad in the hall way with his leg gone and his face missing. I fell to the ground in shock. Then saw my mom getting ripped to pieces what looked like nothing, this creature was invisible I then ran out side and called the police, for what seemed like 25 minutes the police arrived. I explained what happened and they called me nuts but then they walked in and called in the military. Completely shocked the walked out and evacuated everybody within a mile out the city. I never understood what happened in that incident, 4 years later I am still traumatised. I always wonder if that’ll happen to me, but I pray to God that won’t.

Bright stars on tall poles that flicker Headlights, brake lights, and animated chatter Dark streets where rats scatter Tender is the night

Light coruscates all around me, blanketing the area with light as if day. The air filled with unfamiliar scents, And a familiar cold that was halting sleep.

Built up to the blackened sky, Massive screens displaying for the masses to ignore, Streets littered with garbage, outlined with the people walking past.

Laughter and smoking, Whispers and glances. Anything could be more comforting, Than walking through an unfamiliar street.

Joy on their faces but substances on their walk, Hung with money or walking confidence. Dazzling lights emboldened those insecure enough to come. And I am walking.

Insecure and unconfident , Hoping the morning sun peeks it’s face over the mountainous buildings. Letting me know this nightmare of uncertainty is over.

Lost and walking, Dusk and talking. Lots of gawking. Walking through the street.

The rat raced me to the end of the street. Young people filled every restaurant crevice. Carefree laughs filled the September evening Where am I? I lived in DC at 18, left, and came back at 27. Now, I don’t look like these people. There’s a pudge in my belly There’s bags under my eyes My thighs grew. My patience shrunk. Thoughts of my 9-5 plague my Sunday night mind. The DC I knew at 18 was a jungle Filled with liquor stores, locals, and loud go-go. But now, DC looks like urgency and networking events. I left my youth at my office desk. As adulting strikes, all I can think of is the near future. When will we buy our home? When will my pudge turn into the nest of our babies? Work, gym, cook, scroll, text, talk, read, sleep. adulthood is the only hood I don’t recognize in DC.