5039

I set off towards my destination, unsuspecting of my journey. My path felt familiar, but from another direction. It was an eerie feeling as though I had traveled this path before.

Minutes pass. As I drew nearer I still wasn’t certain, but I had a faint hope the paths would align.

I rounded the final corner and recognized it immediately: I had stood there – here – before. In this life, when my brain was still damaged.

But that place didn’t exist anymore. Life moved on. I moved on.

I stood there now at a different point in my life. I was better now. Instead of fighting for my life, I was…living my life.

I entered the building and recognized elements of this place. I looked towards the right and see the building directory, scrolling through on a TV. I carefully study the names, annoyed that the screen is going so slow, is currently on the third floor, and what I searched for would be on the second.

I don’t know why I stood there. I knew that the old place was gone, but I was drawn to confirm. The TV slowly scrolled through and eventually got to the second floor. I read through the names, and suddenly the TV was scrolling too fast– I didn’t see the name, but I couldn’t be certain.

Maybe, I could retrace my steps. I had a faint recollection of the path I used to take. But, I panicked. There were people in the waiting area and eyes were on me. I thought they were on me. I didn’t want these strangers to think that I was a lost newcomer. No, I had been here a hundred times. I knew what I was doing.

I picked left, but that was wrong, as soon as I picked it I knew it wasn’t so. I subtly made my way back to the waiting area, peeking to the right but I didn’t see the stairs. They had to be there, but too scared to make the same mistake twice, I hit the elevator button and quickly got on to avoid further embarrassment.

It was then I realized it wasn’t the strangers I had something to prove to– no, it was to myself.

Too frazzled by this experience, I abandoned my search and reached my destination. Shortly thereafter, I left for a new one. This time I had gotten my bearings straight. My path was aligned and now was second nature– right where I remembered it. I didn’t check the old office, for I realized I had just been in it. I exited into the welcome area, from the right, and I stepped back out into the sun for the second last time from this place.

Last modified: 2025-05-10