Kiara Marmolejos                                                                              11.4.15

It was a beautiful day in early November. Kiara hit snooze on her alarm three times before slinking out of bed. Last night was a late one. She only had 45 minutes to get to class and that was exactly how long the commute was. She rushed down Norwood Avenue and noticed no one was outside. Where were the usual lurkers? The boys that sit on the stoop all day up to trouble? No one? For one second she contemplated the stabbing that occurred on her block the week before. She looked down at the dried blood on the ground then shrugged it off. After appreciating the tranquility of an empty block, she hurriedly climbed the steps to the above ground J train. The sky was clear and the air was clean. After swiping her metro card and walking onto the platform, Kiara took a seat to wait for her train. Little girl Sally with her mother-Tina caught Kiara’s eye. Was that the same Sally from two days ago? Kiara confirmed this and then entered the train. The 30 minute train ride to Canal street was a short one. Kiara was consumed in writing her lab report before class. She wondered why she had left it until the last minute- this was very unlike her.

Kiara was so focused on her calculations that she missed Canal Street and ended up at the next stop- Brooklyn Bridge City Hall. “shit” she thought. She rushed to the 6 train and noticed another familiar face from the day before. Matilda was in her neon green leggings, sweatband gear, and workout shoes. She looks fit! Wonder where she works out… What’s with seeing the same people on the train? Kiara hated routines and she realized her schedule was repetitive. There are too many people in New York City to see the same humans again! She anxiously waited until her stop. 23^rd st! Finally! Kiara darted out of the subway doors and up the stairs to the ground level. While walking down Lexington an older man inaudibly whispered something to her. Accepting the fact that she was beginning to hate men, she rolled her eyes and continued to dash down the avenue. Kiara finally took a breath of relief when she made a left on 24^th street and entered her college campus.

Kiara didn’t like to rush. She liked to enjoy her mornings. Make breakfast. Read. Breathe. And prepare for the day. She didn’t feel like her usual self finally arriving at the science building of her campus.