Amera Collins was finally stopping to smell the roses.
As she exited the building where her real life would begin tomorrow, she took a deep breath and paused for a moment, reflecting upon the path she had traveled.
Amera had come to the City five years ago, a woman in her 20s with nothing but a few dollars in her account, a suitcase filled with personal essentials… and a goal. An all-consuming goal, with dreams of success and respect attached.
Five long years, but at last… she had landed her dream job. She was to start work tomorrow morning; the goal was realized.
Despite her mother’s admonitions, she had lived her entire adult life working toward that goal, never, “Being in the moment,” as Mom constantly advised. It was the only way she could emotionally process the exhaustive, at-times heartbreaking effort she was putting into her career path each and every day.
Stay busy, she would say to herself in those darker moments… stay focused on the goal.
Her career was her life; nothing else mattered, and she apologized to no one for her choices. She had sacrificed everything for it - dating, hobbies, recreation… even sharing intimate physical contact with others was cast aside as superfluous. If it did not serve her ambition, it was seen as a waste of energy; there would be time enough for life’s trappings once she had climbed that first mountain.
Today, she had finally reached the summit. Now… her life could truly begin.
As she glanced around at the various skyscrapers in this City she had come to love, she thought about her parents back in rural Missouri. While both had been relatively ‘normal’ - even rational - in her younger days, something had happened over the last decade.
Something… changed. And that ‘something’ had driven her away - driven her to this moment.
First, Mom went all ‘metaphysical’ on her, always harping about topics like mindfulness and crystal-healing and white ‘magick’ (always spelled with a ‘k’ - seriously?). Dad soon derailed in the opposite direction, going full ‘conspiracy theorist;’ rants about the New World Order and Bill Cooper and his X-Files DVDs were ever prevalent.
Their union became like a mixture of oil and water, and after years of effort they surrendered and filed for divorce. While once incredibly close, the only things they now shared was a loathing of the other’s new path… and a firm belief their beloved daughter should get the hell out of the City.
But I love this City, Amera reminded herself. The energy, the vibe, and now even more; indeed, it had become her sanctuary. It was no longer merely the place where she had escaped the craziness of her parents… but, thanks to today, it was the place where the goal had been conquered.
Yep, she loved it.
The sporadic rain which had been falling throughout the day had quietly dissipated, and with the sun starting its descent toward the western horizon the air took on a feel of tranquility. Bluish-orange hues saturated the cityscape, beckoning one to stop… to breathe… to take in the aroma of those metaphorical roses. So she did.
Turns out? They smelled pretty damned sweet. In fact, she could not recall the last time she felt this at peace.
It reminded her of something her father had attempted to pass on to her, though she oft avoided it; while ‘being in the moment’ was Mom’s deal, Dad had taught her to see patterns in life. He said it was important to understand pivotal moments when they come, to sharpen awareness and so one would have points-of-reference when looking back upon the road behind.
“To know where you’re going, know where you have been,” or some nonsense like that.
Still, and despite herself, she decided to take her father’s advice and make a mental note of the date. This was most certainly a pivot point, after all… the date when her life finally, truly began: September 10, 2001.
Amera took one final glance up at the lofty, gleaming twin towers where she would be working early tomorrow morning. The goal had been reached, and she was suddenly filled with the hope - and the promise - that the future held before her.
She was, at last, alive.
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Holy smokes, dude. I did not see the twist coming, and I pride myself on predicting them.
Ewwwww….. chilling at the end Stone. 🥶
I didn’t see the surprise coming at the end! Sweet! 👍♥️