#8

The idea persisted with me throughout the trip and when I got out I was greeted by the sweet smell of pollution. Even though it had been less than a day since the last time I’d been in one, it seemed like forever. Now all I wanted was to get to the centre to scout for opportunity. I saw this as coming out of the hole I dug myself, and the fact that I could realize that felt better than a slap in the face. The size of the city was unprecedented to me, which made it scary, yet beautiful. It gave me both hope, that I could be a part of it and mould it, and fear, that I’d be eaten up by it and rubbed away. Now it was time to look forward and up, I had no one, but I had my ideas and me. Somehow that was reassuring and at that moment it was all I needed for my legs to move.

#7

#6

It was all that was needed, an idea. I broke my fall with my arms, but was still eating dirt. Falling to the ground is never a nice feeling, but the memory of a saying was triggered by it. My father always told me “If you fall down seven times get up eight”; and that is what I did. I stood up unfazed, looked around one last time – people were sniggering and pointing at the stranger who tripped – and walked back to the train station. I had looked around enough, I wanted a big city, something I could grasp and work with. I had the start of a business plan, but I needed a place where I could make it come to fruition. I got back onto the train I looked out of the window and bid it goodbye. I was looking forward, and the future was looking back at me. Isn’t it amazing how the future can be so uplifting?

#5