The Journey

Being a stranger in a strange city is not easy. Unfamiliar streets, unknown faces, and not to mention, an altogether uncharted territory within our mind makes one wonder whether they are alone in this world. Checking email on your iPhone is like receiving a confirmation that you are the same person you knew yourself to be - an affirmation about our own image. It was almost closing time. The restaurant, almost empty, was attended by a lone wait staff preparing for the end of his shift. The sky had become a dull gray. A gust of cold wind caused a woman on the street to shiver. As she covered her ears with a wrap, I noticed that she had been waiting at the stop for nearly an hour. She must have missed the 6:30 to downtown. She would have to shiver for another 40 minutes, as per the evening bus schedule. I would've preferred the train.

"Here's your check. I did not charge you for the extra dip."

"Am I keeping you late? "

"Well, you're my last customer for the day."

"I'd better make haste."

"It's ok. Take your time. But by about the stroke of the hour, I will have to close the place up. It's a strict rule."

Leaving some tip, I quietly clutched my briefcase and the laptop carrier. As I headed for the door, I remembered leaving something behind. I jogged my memory to think what could be missing from my ensemble. I recalled going to the restroom.

At the back of the restaurant, down a dark hallway, all the way to the end, I opened the door on the right. I stopped by the basin where I had lathered my hands with a fragrant soap. I had taken off my ring and placed it on the counter next to the napkin dispenser. It was still there. A shining band of gold atop a slab of granite.

From under the faucet, something crawled out - an ant. It got sucked into a puddle of water as its feet, soaking wet, became limp. It fought, against the current, to stay afloat desperately trying to swim. The struggle went on for several minutes. Eventually, the droplet slid off into the pit of the basin and traveled down the drain hole taking the helpless ant with it. I could not watch.

As I boarded the train, I stood sandwiched between the evening rush hour crowd. Men were dressed in business suits, and women begged for their attention with bright lipstick. After tomorrow, I'd be heading back to my own home - to the place that was once familiar. What had now been marked with uncertainty was my future, my job, and my finances. Hanging on by a thread, it could all be cut and in a moment I'd become lost, helpless, and completely vulnerable to the forces driving this economy. Feeling small and powerless was something I had come to fear. Would I survive? Would I be able to rise and stay afloat? These thoughts continued to occupy my mind when the doors opened.

As I located my gate at the airport, I placed my attaché and bags onto the security belt. I was cleared. I closed my eyes as the plane took off into a new direction guided by the control tower and a radar. For a brief moment, I felt safe and reassured.