Green Lights

I drive a route quite often to swim practice.  After swim practice in the morning, I sit at the same light.  Only once or twice have I driven up while the light is green.  On my left would lie a bed of flowers, overflowing with pink, purple and green.  I'd look over at the car on my right.  Usually it is a senior citizen.  I wonder where all the other teenagers in the world are.  I wonder what his purpose is and where he is going. Where is he from?  Why is he at the University at ten in the morning?  Sometimes he might catch me looking at him, and I'd turn away quickly.  I might put some Atopalm face lotion on while I have a minute or two at the red light.  I'd look in the rear view mirror and see my wet and messy hair falling down past my shoulders, curtaining my dry face.

I realized one morning that where I live is such a small place.  The same roads I cover weekly and those roads feel like my home.  I know where I am going here.  But, there is a whole world out there that I have yet to discover.  The smoothies I drink from local coffee shops can not be recreated outside of this place.  The speed bumps all around town have become so familiar to me.  I know where to swerve on the road to avoid potholes.  I wave to my neighbors even though I don't recognize them.  I feel comfortable walking barefoot in my neighborhood.  I go to practice in my jammies.  I feel comfy sitting on couches in the furniture stores.  The rest of the world seems so far away.

All of the people I listen to who sing, who I watch in movies, and who I read about in news even seem like a different world.

-Mallory