It began with the simplest of desires — to step out, to make myself available to the world again. That day the city felt oddly hollow, as if it were holding its breath. The air was still, the streets were almost deserted, and I remember thinking how strange it was to walk through downtown and hear my own footsteps echo back at me. A football night? A holiday? The world seemed elsewhere.
I walked anyway — 2.5 kilometers of quiet pavement and glancing winds, the kind that slip around corners and make buildings whisper. When I reached the café, it was nearly empty — just a couple murmuring softly and one man waiting for his takeaway. I ordered my little joy: cake and milk. It felt like a small ceremony of self-presence. Just me, sweetness, and silence.
As the sun began to lower,... 👉🏼 continue reading 👈🏼