BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Was unfortunately the only four letter word Sarit hears every morning. And so her day begins… 7:26am…Right foot down, left foot following. First thing she does is rush to the restroom so her brother doesn’t shower for 3 hours before her. Sarit then quickly gets dressed picking the nearest thing to her, grabs her bag and slams the door behind her. She walks out of her apartment building and makes a right saying hi to the traffic cop she sees every morning still wondering if, holding her hand up to the cars who have to stop anyways at the stop sign, is a hard job? Then she makes a left going straight for three long blocks till she sees the train station. As she hops on down the stairs she gets a whiff of the Dunkin Donuts coffee hitting her nose. Already dreading the fact that her commute is an hour, but it’s Monday, AND it’s raining.  People are not nice in the train, shoving, making mean faces, quiet mumbling of rude remarks. This is what Sarit hears Monday-Friday. Not many know this but Sarit is claustrophobic. Ironic right? She takes crowded nasty MTA trains every day towards the most crowded city just to get a college education, her mom should be proud. She sees the E train coming her way, praying there is breathing and standing space in it, forget hoping for a seat.

Lexington 53^rd street stop is here, she gets off and runs to the 6 train. Up the escalator she runs, makes a sharp left, then runs down the stairs, goes straight, runs back up an escalator, and just makes it into the train. Hearing an MTA employee flashing a flashlight towards the train rider saying good to close the doors, remembering how deep his voice was. As she stands for three stops Sarit smells the best breakfast sandwich and remembers not only about her empty heart but an empty stomach the goes along with it, haha just joking but breakfast shouldn’t be skipped it’s Sarit’s favorite meal of the day too. Sarit had one more stop till 23^rd street then all of a sudden the train stops. The announcer says, “TRAIN TRAFFIC AHEAD OF US!” Sarit rolls her eyes because there’s always traffic. Why? How? Like aren’t we all going in the same direction, what’s the hold up? The train dispatcher closes the train doors so fast it could slice your hands off.  Finally the train begins to move again. 23^rd street stop, she bumped into an old lady, felt badly for the homeless man so she gave him a dollar, begins to run down 2 blocks, makes a sharp left and enters the school.

Ariana saw the rain from her window and decided to order a via to get to school. Usually she would order from a different taxi app, but all other apps had no available cars do to the weather. She knew they took longer, though she was feeling a little under the weather. Once in the Via she observed the passenger in the front seat, one of four that she was sharing the ride with. He had been on the sidewalk next to her before the car arrived, she recalled the awkward yet comical moment when they approached the same car.  It would have been more lighthearted if the man wasn’t so stern.

At one point a woman had to get out who was sitting in the last row of seats, this drop off took about three minutes to execute. Since Ariana had acclimated to the New York City lifestyle such an interim seemed to be everlasting. It became prevalent midway through her trip that she would be late to class. Ariana knew there was no way to change the inevitable, so she calmed down and looked out the window. The sky was grey and the glass was thickened by fog and smudges of raindrops fighting against the wind; However, she was happy. Ariana watched the building go buy, slowly, and thought of her usual routine. When was the last time she had time to pause in the middle of her life. Stillness only comes in her sleep and that has been fleeting recently. The traffic was a blessing today.

*Beep* *Beep* It was 4:15 am and the start of a long week for Priyana. She puts her alarm on snooze and dozes off for a few minutes until it goes off again. Her phone reads 4:25 am and she knows she has to get up and start her daily routine for school. As she starts the shower she looks at her face in the mirror, signs of lack of sleep has made her eyes look so dark.  After getting showering and getting dressed it is now 5:00 am and Priyana has to leave now or else she’ll be late to her 7:15 am class. She walks outside into the dark and humid morning. Water was falling from the sky, the humidity was relatively high. She starts her walk to her car and finally comes into view with it. It starts up and shes off to the train station. She finds parking and starts walking fast to make it on time for the train departing in a minute. She makes it and her commute starts. As she takes the A train to Jay Street the train is filled with construction workers. Its silent and moving fast. In no time she reaches Jay Street and transfers to the R train. After getting off the R she starts her walk to 23rd street and lexington. The rain drops were coming down harder now making it hard to see. She still makes it on time at the vertical campus for her first class of the week.

It was Monday morning around seven in the morning, the alarm ringing loud disturbing all peace and quiet in the room. Hearing the loud noise, Sim, woke up from a deep sleep. With only two hours of sleep he got out of bed in order to get ready for college. Walking out of the door to outside world, it was raining and the wind blowing. At that very moment I thought you grabbing an umbrella. For once listening to himself Sim, toke the umbrella and opened it above himself. On his regular route to Baruch College, first taking the bus to Kew Gardens then take the E train to the 6 train. In that 6 train, it was hot and wet because of all the rain and wet umbrellas. As Sim looked up to fix his headphones, he saw a friend he did not see for very long time. He walked towards that friend, Aman, to say hi. On this train ride I thought Wow Sim has grown up and matured a lot from the last time we met. Cutting the conversion and promising to hang out and catch up next week Aman got off the train. Sim after thinking about all the good times they both shared missed his station of 23^rd street. Unfortunately, he was already late due to train delays possibly because of the rain and train traffic. He eventually came to his train station, grabbed coffee to stay awake. He finally reached his destination, his class, only ten minutes late.

Every day, the moment she wakes up, it takes her a second to realize what day it is. She thinks to herself, “Ah… Monday. Today is Monday.” Now having realized that it is indeed a Monday, Irene instantly feels a sense of relief. For Irene, Mondays are her best days. She is obligated to wake up early, being that she has a class at 9:55 AM; yet she finished her day in school by 1:20 PM, leaving her the whole day to do as she pleases. So with that thought in mind, she willingly uncovers herself from the sheets, warmed for seven hours by her body as it rejuvenated from the day prior. As she walks from her bed to the bathroom, she feels as if everything is in a daze, almost as if her vision had been compromised in her sleep. Approaching the bathroom she catches sight of herself, a much puffier looking self, she notices. The reflection in the mirror staring back at her, squinting her terribly swollen eyes ever so slightly, due to her lack of a clear sight, looks awfully disheveled. She positions her fingers, cupping the under of her eyes, gauging down as if she were going to claw her own eyes out; but really, she just needed to wake the fuck up. Already taking too long of a time to play with her face and review the state her morning self, Irene finally begins her morning routine of brushing her teeth, washing her face, wiping all around with toner, and finishing off with a blue transparent face moisturizer; then it occurred to her, her moisturizer smells of a faint toothpaste.
“Never mind that,” she thinks to herself. The clock is ticking. Time is running out.
Now in a rush, she starts tearing her room apart looking for her simple black sweats, and her big baggy hoody; her go-to attire for a day like this. Just like that, Irene swings her backpack over her shoulders, recklessly getting her headphone tangled in the strap, scrambling out the door a mess. The clock now reads 9:45 and she realizes how late she’ll be if she tried to catch the subway. And so, she calls for an Uber and the Uber is now arriving in 2 minutes.
As the Uber approaches, she takes a look around to notice the beautiful day’s walk to school she has just missed by calling this Uber, but presumed to get in the car. “Hello good morning! Irene,” she says to the driver, validating that this Uber is really hers. The radio is playing classical music which Irene enjoys so very much on her ride to school; it eases her from the angst of being late. Minutes that once seemed like much longer minutes while waiting for the car finally quickened with the music. As the Uber arrived at her school, once again the angst is back and she has her hand already on the door handle, ready to jump out, before the car has even come to a complete stop. Irene runs for the stairs, skipping every other step. She begins to feel a slight sweat coming on and realized she’s dressed too warm because she had thought she was going to walk. Waiting impatiently for the elevator she irritably starts tapping her toes. The elevator arrives and she’s thankful for being the only one in the elevator. Straight to the 13th floor the elevator goes. She runs out of the elevator and speed walks to her class at the end of the hall as if she trying to win a fast walk race. Irene opens the door to a room full of eyes on her, and just for a second, a split second really, she feels awkward.

You can hear the whispers in the air as the clouds paced back and forth. Liquid condensed from the atmosphere began to fall, droplets at a time. Drip, drop, drip, drop. Traffic was heavier than normal. Imani always took this route to Baruch; the FDR highway straight to 23rd St.
People beeped their horns in impatience. Imani rolled down the window and the sweet fragrance of petrichor surfaced the car. Bernice sung,
And the sound of the rain
Against my windowpane
Is slowly, is slowly drivin’ me insane, boy
It must of been their freshmen year at Baruch; because a real snob is what Bernice Byfield thought of Imani. Bernice and Imani were once one; they did almost everything together. Well, that was up until Bernice had heard Imani’s misperceive Imani’s perspective on financial assistance. Money wasn’t plentiful for the Byfield’s, however, that didn’t play a role in their friendship. Although, many may refer to Imani as “high maintenance” Imani didn’t considered herself to be a snob. Just because her parents owned a fancy floor to ceiling window condo and she drove a S class Mercedes Benz didn’t make her a snob. Exit 8, was the next exit and Imani was nearly 10 minutes late to class.

Festus Commute to Baruch

Is Monday morning again, the second day of the week, my alarm woke me up at 7am at a normal time. But Subconsciously I hate waking up early Monday morning because I always stay late studying every Sunday night. First thing Festus always do when he wakes up is to check his school and work email for any relevant information. Is a rainy and windy day, Festus always make his breakfast and drink his espresso before leaving the house.

However, on his way to school, Festus forgot his wallet and umbrella. Simultaneously, Festus had to run back to his apartment to bring his umbrella and his wallet. After carefully looked at the time, Festus just realize he is running out of time for his first English class. He lives in W155^th Street in the Bronx; it takes him approximately 45m to commute from the Bronx to Manhattan. Festus finally got in to the “4 express train” on his way to school, Festus had a train delayed due to a sick passenger on the train. He was very upset and worried because he is running late to class. Initially the train was running normal, but due to the sick passenger it was mediocre. Upon reaching to Grand central 42^nd Street he transferred to the 6^th train without any delay and finally made his way to the campus. Upon entering the campus, the security guard ask Festus for his student ID with rude manner and he showed him his ID card as requested. After facing the security guard with his unacceptable behavior, I thought about the horrible elevator, because the elevator seldom takes a decade to come. I still exhibited a good composure and realize finally I made it to class today.

Festus .I.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Are you awake?” David, Ilya’s brother asked, “you will be late for school. its 8:30am.”

Ilya jumped from his bed, brushed his teeth while making himself a hot cup of coffee, and off he went towards Baruch College. It was one of these days that waking up will be a sin, yet there was no other choice. It was raining cats and dogs, while Ilya was pacing towards the B6 bus, on Cropsey Ave. Suddenly, Ilya realized that he forgot his wallet. He ran back home, grabbed his wallet, kissed his wife goodbye(again), and ran to the bus station on Cropsey Ave. it was 9:00am Ilya got on the bus, which stopped three stops later, and got off 86th st. and Bay Parkway. Ilya crashed the staircase, like he was the stairs-master trainee. He heard the subway conductor announcing that the next stop on the D train will be 20th ave., as throughout all morning Ilya knew that the only chance of making to his 10:00am class on time would be to get to the train that is on the platform, he rushed through, pushed his foot between the shutting doors, and the train dispatcher could not leave unless Ilya would take his foot out from the doors. Then Mark Johnson, the train conductor said “Stop blocking the doors from closing!” “this fool with the brown sweater and mousy face, reminds me of Joshua from college, I despised people like him, inconsiderate to the environment, now everybody is going to be late because of him” Mark Johnson thought to himself. However, Ilya achieved his goal, the door opened, and he got into the subway. Everybody starred, “Sorry” Ilya said. He took a sit on one of the available seats, plugged his ear plugs and listened the some soothing tunes by Fredrick Chopin. Grandpa was the one who advised to listen to Fredrick Chopin, it is Grandpa’s favorite musician. Ilya shut his eyes, and realized that he has so many things to do throughout this week. Get ready for the Midterm in Cost Accounting, Moving out to a different apartment and make sure he submitting all the homework due is only part of his list. The roof was leaking, because of the pouring rain hammering on the subway. “I should not have gotten out of the bed today” Ilya thought to himself.

Looking at the watch, it was 9:45am and Ilya was transferring on the Broadway-Lafayette stop to the 6 train on Bleecker St. Would he be in class on time he thought to himself. he looked to the side, and noticed a stunning couple. She was a blue eyed mulatto with the perfect figure in a red dress. He was 5’9″ white male, with a three day unshaven beard. Suit up in a naval blue suit and white button down shirt. They were kissing, how long had not he had intimate time with his adorable most supporting wife. Is that what we are here to do,  chasing after our dreams and forget our loved ones, and why did we start to begin with. Ilya turned his head, the jealousy of such intimate moments was unbearable. He got on the 6 train and got off on 23rd street station. it was 9:50am, Ilya sipped his last sip from his coffee, and threw it into the green bin. He walked towards the north-east side of Park Ave. and 22nd street. Ilya looked to the right and noticed Novita, a nice little restaurant that he wanted to take Catherine for dinner. “That will be a great us time” he said to himself. He crossed 22nd street and reached the north-west corner of 22nd street and Lexignton Ave. “Beep!” the yellow cab horned “Fu***** As*****” Ilya shouted. Why are they doing this, can not they be more considerate to their environment and surroundings. The red light turned green, Ilya walked into the The Lawrence and Eris Field Building on 9:55am, and flashed his ID to the security guards. Ilya walked into class Dr. Hussey’s class right on time, 09:57am. And to think that it took an hour to get to school.

It is Monday morning at 5:30am, alarm awakes up Didi. She laying on bed around ten minutes. Then use around twenty minutes to prepared for her commute to Baruch. When she walk to downstairs open the door she saw the wet ground and drizzle. So she grab an umbrella on the top of shoe cabinet before she leaves the house. She walks out pass one street and made a right turn to Q13 bus stop. Keep looking at the time to see when the bus coming, because it is very cold and raining outside. She wish can get into the bus. When 6:03 finally the bus comes. It took 32 stops around 35 minutes for Didi to reach Flushing, Main Street. She just when to the diner car to buy a quick breakfast. Then Didi reaching to train 7 station. It is the first stop of Manhattan bound 7 trains. She got on a express train like every day she did. It will save her a lot time for take the express train. When she find a place to set down she finally fell relax because she will not be late for her first class. Also, it is early in the morning it makes Didi felt asleep during the subway. Amy a office lady setting next to Didi and look at her she think this must be a college student. Based on the will she manifestation, no makeup and a bunch of copy paper show on her bag. Didi got off on Grand Central and make the transfer here to take the 6 train. It took her about 8 minutes to get to 23th street. Sometimes it is to much people waiting for the 6 train she have to take the next one it will take her around 13 minutes to get to the 23th street. But she is lucky for today got on the first one. The 6 train is so crowd but when she think it just have few stop 33st, 28st, then 23st.
Didi got off the train walk out at the train station. There was about 5 minute walk for her to reach her classroom on VC binding at 10 floors. She was here on time. After she finish her first class she went to library to print some documents for her other class. After she walk out at library she go to the old building at lex av for her English class. Based on the time she spend on the library it makes her 3 minutes late for her English class.

A loud relentless beep awoke Michelle from her sleep. She heard the rain drops outside. What a sober day it would be. She rolled out of bed and started her morning routine. Before she knew it, she was outside getting soaked in the rain. She could not remember where she put her umbrella and did not have time to find it. She walked out of her house and turned right. When was the rain going to end? She walked 5 blocks. Did she have time to get coffee? She looked at her phone. 8:50, she was cutting it close. Finally, she got to the train station. Now where was that metro card? For the life of her, she could never remember which pocket she threw it in last. She scoured through her bag, then her wallet. There it was! She walked up the stairs. She heard the train coming. She ran. It was the Q. Almost robotically, Michelle got on. She passed 2 stations. The train was local. She hoped to catch the B train, but there was no sign of it. She was happy to have gotten on the Q. Maybe the got on the B train wasn’t running today? No, that didn’t make sense. It was Monday, right? She passed Kings Highway. She kept looking at the stops. Ave J. The train was moving so slow. She had her headphones in, she got lost in her music. Somewhere amidst the lyrics she heard St. Tropez. And there she was on a beach, in the French Rivera. She was tan, she was warm, she was sipping on the finest French Cabernet. And then she heard the train operator “This is Newkirk Plaza.Transfer is available to the B train.” She turned around. The B was across the platform. She ran , grabbed an open seat in the last cart of the B. She dropped her umbrella on her lap, spraying the lady next to her. Shit, she thought. Penelope Pushy was dressed in a leopard print coat. She was staring out the window of the train but when she felt the drops she quickly turned her head. Of all the places in the train, Michelle had to sit next to her? Lady Pushy tried to move closer to the window and looked out of it. Should she tell this girl to move her wet umbrella? Lady Pushy sat quietly, slowly moving herself away from the umbrella. They were already at Prospect Park. Michelle raised her head from her phone screen and realized the umbrella was bothering Lady Pushy. She moved it away. The train went underground. They reached 7th avenue. The train was stopped once again. Since when was there phone service underground? This was new. The train left the station, moved about 300 feet and then it stopped. “We are delayed because of train traffic ahead of us.” Not this again. She looked at her phone..9:20. The lady sitting next to her was was which my train stopped moving for about 20 minutes. Michelle remembered waking up on Dekalb. Lady Pushy needed to get off the train. Brooklyn Bridge. She stared out of the window and looked at South Street Seaport. It was beautiful even in the rain. New York was the city of cities. Next stop: Grand Street and finally Broadway Lafayette. Michelle got off the last cart of B train and took the escalator upstairs to the uptown 6. She hoped the train would be there by the time she got up. It was serendipity because there it was. She leaned by the door. The train was packed. They passed Astor Place, Union square. More people. How many people could it on this train. Michelle pushed closer to the door. “Finally.. 23rd street, she thought” She walked out of the train from the 22nd street exit and walked one block straight up to Lexington Avenue and there was Baruch!