Daily Commute

by Melissa R. Mendelson 

The rush of air nearly knocks me off my feet, and a moment later, the push of the crowd pulls me
into the metal box. The door slams closed as it jolts forward, and I quickly grab the metal pole
nearby. A ringing sound echoes inside my ears, and another moment later, the train comes to a
screeching halt to pour its riders out and pull more in.

As I continue my ride downtown, my thoughts travel back to the days, where I used to go to
the fair and ride inside a haunted house. The rocking of the car reminds me of that same
feeling. The dark surrounding tunnels with flickers of electricity paints that familiar scene before changing into a bright tunnel with more riders waiting on their commute. There is even a sense of dread at times, wondering if this train would get stuck in a tunnel and all the occupants would be trapped within its metal walls.

Shaking nostalgia off my back, I ready myself for another day in the real world, something that my
father used to throw at me. Granted, I did dwell in the world of dreams a lot, but in that place,
I found hope, inspiration, and even happiness. In this world, the real one, I find confusion, distance, and solitude. It's a dog-eat-dog place, but I'm not one for that drama.

But it's another day, another dollar. It's a coin in that large jar of my foundation for my dreams.
It's an ordinary day, where the city looms over me, and I go to work and sit before my computer.

 


Melissa R. Mendelson is a published author and poet. She is currently working on a collection of short stories.