There's something about going home that always brings a sort of peace to our mind no matter the hour of the day. No matter what, once we are within the four walls of the sanctuary that we have built up over the years, we find ourselves shielded and ready for any foreseeable attack. Even the thought of going home pump enough adrenaline to pick up our pace.
If it's said that the street was as pitch black as the sky above, it would be wrong. For some unknown reason, even though the lights of a few roadside lamps were reflecting off the pavement, the road was foreboding than anything. Perhaps it's the lack of humans anywhere in vision that was the reason that the environment seemed ominous. Then I start to contemplate if there was anyone in the vicinity, would it provide me any relief. If there was any man around, I hardly think they were up to anything savory of nature. It's a foolish idea to walk at a doggone hour like this.
I remember from a tv show (that many of us know of) nothing good happens after 2 a.m., which might be true at this point. As fast as I was walking, I was riddled with two choices, either to go back to my friend's home or to walk home. Even if I wasn't aware of it at that exact moment, my subconscious had already made the decision; walk home, faster. It may not have been the most sensible thing to do but I was almost halfway to my house.
At any other hour, I would have enjoyed the peace and quiet of the road, the cool breeze was an added bonus. The cool breeze was slightly swaying the leaves of the trees opposite of the iron fence. It seemed like nature was playing a symphony that I was ignoring with all my might. My senses were heightened and I was aware of everything else other than the beautiful night that cascaded over that asphalt that looked shiny due to the dimly lit lamps. A lonely street it was or the ghost street, I wasn't sure anymore. Sometimes a car would drive by but not too often, but I was too cautious to ask for a lift. The discarded packets around the trash can were drifting away. Even the slightest of noise made by an alley cat or stray dog was enough to send a chill down my spine. My heart was beating so loud as if it jumped to my throat and I was almost running to my destination, home. That was all on my mind, my home.
There was a vague sound of something came from behind me.
I was alone.
The thought of being alone wasn't as overwhelming as the thought of being followed by a stranger. I looked back to find the source of the sound but found nothing. At that point, I was almost running and I was aware of the proximity towards my apartment, my fort, and all I could do is run faster. I was calculating the time and distance. Unknowingly, one of my hands grabbed the handle of my shoulder bag tightly and the other one slid inside the purse and got hold of my phone, unlocked it and my thumb was ready to place the emergency call button in a matter of seconds. I was scared but that's an understatement; I was reminding myself, painstakingly so, to never walk around an empty street at 2 a.m. ever again.
I peeked over my shoulder one more time and slowed down my pace after seeing no one and minutes later I found myself closer to the area I live in. Even the familiar sight of my neighborhood had engulfed me into a sense of security that I was able to let my guard down to a point. And, I finally decided to take a glance at the sky and was awed by the giant white smeared ball of mystery. Maybe if I wasn't panicking, I could've enjoyed my walk.
Nothing good happens after 2 a.m. - even if nothing bad happened to me but the feeling of insecurity and uncertainty was enough to assure me of what could and couldn't have happened.
Just a semi-fiction.
