The Start of All Things...

BAMM! The wind runs across the still room and pushes the door shut behind me. My hand leaves the knob giving it one turn for safety. The silent but warm hall meets my eyes with a blend of monotony and fatigue. I walk slowly to the end of the hall and turn the corner, my bag gently sliding off my shoulder. A shrug shifts it squarely back on as I push the arrow for the lift and patiently wait to see which one has chosen to pick me up today. Ah, my favorite, the middle one greets me with a ding of happiness, the doors open with a smile. 'L' is chosen and I'm whisked away in a brass-lined box which reflects my image on all sides.

I walk out through the lobby throwing out a less than enthusiastic "good morning" to the somewhat disgruntled woman behind the counter. Only sometimes do I receive a reply, often as I'm walking out of earshot. The doors open, a smile arises on my face and genuine greeting rolls of my half asleep tongue as I nod my dreary eyes toward the coated man in the cap. The brisk chill hits my face; my hands snuggled tightly in my jacket pockets constrict around my body to trap in the warmth. A grin erupts on my face as I continue walking around the corner. I am no longer dripping with sweat nor about to be a flame-haired pizza in an over-sized, heat box jammed full of a mixed pies being delivered to work.

Around the corner I walk, balancing my satchel on one shoulder while massaging my ears with some morning tunes. A selection is made. My pace quickens. I round the corner to the busy chamber everyone seems so intent on entering. My hand reaches out to receive one of two free publications but my mind has already chosen for me, my choice has become a habit. I enter the darkness and which triggers an instinctive reach for my wallet. My eyes stare ahead. In one fluid motion, my feet, hands and waist lock in rhythm as my fingers slide into the flap under my ID, pull out striped yellow card and run it through worn, metallic reader. My legs are outstretched as if no obstruction existed and turn the wheel as my arm releases the pitch. BEEP! 'Go' flashes on the screen but my eyes do not wander. The card returns itself seamlessly to it's home in the exact same alignment as it left.

The next 30 seconds are a flash of exuberance and sprinting depending on the outcome of my peripheral glance towards the far platform. The race is on today, my mind and body explode into dash down the hallway and up the next staircase. My heart is racing, the veins in the temples are throbbing as I hurdle up three stairs at a time. I grab hold of the cold steel railing and swing myself towards the closing vice. My eyes light up! Empty seats stare back at me, a rarity at this time of day. Crap, the gap is narrowing and my daily exercise isn't working. My hope falters and a with a lurch forward, my morning comfort leaves the station.

I stand and patiently wait in my usual spot, marked only by my mind. My ears are still tingling from the entertainment streaming through my head, at least I chose a good playlist this morning. The local train chugs in behind me and lets loose a hoard of desperate souls propped up against the glass doors, hoping to catch the next express ride downtown. Still no express. Still waiting. Another local arrives letting loose another batch of jumpy, pushy wally's. Still no sign as the platform fills up with heads emerging from the darkness below.

CRACK! CLING! CLING! BANG! The speeding tube rushes through air blowing newspaper in the air; mine is still tucked into the side pocket of my bag. The doors pass by dizzingly fast as first but then begin to slow and finally stop and aligns themselves with my shadow. A few people step off and break the seal as a rush shapes fill the train like a car crashing into the sea. The last ounce of fluid finds empty air at the very top. The doors close once, twice and finally slam shut.

Off I go, streaming down the middle of Manhattan as cars drive on the surface, people walk about, buildings sway in the wind, planes fly overhead and clouds float like outstretched fingers over the horizon.