I went out of my house for a meeting today, and walked toward Soho. It was from there, I had wandered into China Town. I was early for the meeting, so I decided to sit in the square between the shops..
The cool crisp fall air blew through the streets as several shop owners busied along their way. Some were delivering goods; while some parents; with their children in tow, had stopped to sit in the square to pass the time. Myself, along with around 20 – 30 people all sat huddled together on the cold stone steps at the center square. On my right, a mother of two young children ate their lunch. On my left, two construction workers were speaking polish. And at my back, two girls complained feverishly about their boyfriends.
In front of me, several people moved too and from the square. I can estimate that probably around 15 – 2o people were in front of me at any given time. Around six of them occasionally looking at their phones then looking across the square surprised, as the person they had been waiting for ran over to them, hugged and apologized for being late. One girl, standing at the stalls next to a few vendors, waited for a very long time before walking away quietly. I believe she may had been looking at me.
I looked up at the blue sky. The clouds crawled across it calmly. The sun peaked through occasionally and a beam of light shot down into the square. A soft breeze would sometimes waft through the buildings, holding in it the promise of winter, the smell of browning leaves, car fumes, fried rice and perfume from possibly someone sitting near me.
While sitting there, silently.. I began to remember when I lived in America.. back in my home town of Zanesville. I had used to sit inside my car on occasion and stare out over the horizon; wishing one day, I would be able to experience the city in such a way that I was experiencing at that moment. When I had arrived to London, I knew the way I imagined city life, would be entirely different than the real thing. Yet, today.. I had experienced a bit of a dream.
Maybe it was the air today..the cool breeze, or the feeling of fall or the nostalgic temperature of the breeze that I had only felt back in the states; but something about today was incredible. Whatever it was, it made me think.
Back home, i used to dream about living in the city. (london).
and I dreamt about it during fall, so many times..
Sitting in the square in china town, surrounded by all those busy people, while i myself were huddled together on the stone steps under that gazeebo; I felt that I wasn’t there. As if, the world was moving all around me. Breathing, pushing forward… and for a moment, I was a part of it. I was no longer an observer. I was a part of this living, breathing city.
Inside however, i felt that the outrageous dream I had once as a young inexperienced person was really happening.
It sounds stupid i know.. I’ve been here forever. Three years now… But it was like something connected me–through the breeze —with who I was back then. Through time and space.
And for two hours, under that blue sky.. i felt like time slowed down, and someone said to me.
Anything is achievable..
This is destiny.
And if you really want.. you can have it. The world; this moment, can last forever… If you want it.
