Anthology of the Dark

Let's Walk

Disclaimer: The following character names are changed to protect their identities. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. 

This is a work of fiction.

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Thank you for reading Anthology of the Dark.
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   It was late. As all nights usually were. I fixed my things, turned of the computer and I waved goodbye to my office mates. I like staying late, I like the peace that you experience at night when everyone else is already home or inside shops and cafes. I don't mind being alone, I love the peace and quiet of it.

   My office isn't far from where I live. I'm actually quite fortunate to have found this apartment that's just a few blocks away from my work. I don't need a bicycle or anything to go to work, I just walk and that's it. I like walking. Actually, I like walking and people watching. The neighborhood I live in has a chuck full of interesting shops and people actually swarm those shops and restaurants. It's colorful and bright and happy.

   I love my evening walks.

   It usually takes me just 20-25 minutes of walking from my apartment to the office building. I have nothing to complain about. So I go about my usual walking route; I go out of the office, turn to the first right corner, head on straight past of the baker's place where I buy my morning bagel and then turn on the next corner past the flower shop and coffee shop with the weird laundry shop which also have a secret bar inside that people love going into, and the turn another corner to this... Hmmm... Well, crap. There's an ongoing construction and there's no way I could walk in there. Probably the water tubes underground again. Yes, I'm definitely not going there because it's already flooding.

   Seriously, why do they have to do these fixings at night? Well... Okay then, let's go to on the next route. I back up, turn back to the weird laundry and then turn to the street with the vintage signs who sells all the IG aesthetics clothing and knickknacks. This should take me to the alterna- Oh come on!

   "Are you kidding me?" I blurt out in the open. There's another construction in the street. Geez man. I just want to go home. I ask what's up and the construction guy said there's a problem with the pipes so they're also working the whole block. I'm not allowed to pass through even if that route will take me at least 10 minutes closer to my building. 

   Alright, alright. Can't argue with construction people. So, I check my options. See, If I go the other way, it will take me another 20 minutes of walk just to get to my place. I'm thinking may be I should grab my Chinese noodles if I'm going to walk the long way. I stood there in the side walk thinking... Screw it, Chinese noodles it is.

   So I head on to the street where the Chinese takeout is. I tell you, this is the best Chinese takeout in the city! Plus, the owners are very nice couple and their 13 year old kid handles the cashier, I believe she's become a sort of mini celebrity now because of Instagram. Anyway, I got my Chinese takeout noodles (Beef noodles with oyster sauce and buttered brocolli. Yummmmmm.) back to the walk.

   I continue to walk and eat and I turn to this other corner and I remembered oh yeah, there's another street here that will cut my walk shorter!