As the sun beams into my eyes, I wake up and get to my feet. I yawn as I stretch my body. The smell of wet soil and garbage doesn’t bother me, as it would a person wearing a tie and a fancy watch. As I stand there, I notice the white Nissan with a Miami Heat plate rush by. I know it’s a quarter to seven. My neighbors start to walk to the service vans that provide the only free meal. A frigid drop lands on my head. I look up to see the high bridges over me, but the longer I gaze, the higher I feel I’m flying. The cars overhead rush with thunderous engines, and I wake up from reality.
After my free meal, I sit for a while under the noisy bridge. After a few hours the driver of the white Nissan rushes by with a burger in his mouth and I know it’s a quarter to twelve. As the young driver of the Nissan stops at a traffic light, he punches the steering wheel. He must be in a hurry. I slowly get to my feet and walk towards the busiest street. I begin to ask for money and food in the melting temperature.
After four hours and seven dollars, a familiar car pulls up next to me. The young driver of the Nissan that is always in a hurry stops to give me a bottle of water.
“Can I give you some advice?” I say.
Surprised at what I asked him, he gives me a grin. “Sure,” he tells me.
“You should really slow down,” I suggest.
“And why in the world would I do that?” he asks.
“Because life is beautiful when you slow down and enjoy it.”
“Really?” he responds sarcastically.
“Really.” I answer back. “I had it all once, used to live always stressed out. I was always in a hurry, until it all came to a sudden halt and I lost it all,” I paused for a second as the traffic light turned green. ”Life is not a race, but indeed a journey.”
“Sure,” he tells me and speeds off. Before disappearing from sight, I notice for the first time cars passing him as he slows down.
