City Lights

Under the shadows of the moon and the quiet lullabies of a thousand stars, the silence of a sleeping neighbourhood is almost deafening. Almost. It long way from the hustle-bustle of the heart of the city but the tired wail of a lone car is never far from people. The silhouettes of towering buildings and structures line up the horizon, it’s lights only a faint memory of the day. Another day gone. Another day come. The stock market just dropped. The gas price climbed yet again. But for now, in the safety of the night, the promise of tomorrow is enough to sing the anxious hearts to sleep. 

And when they do, all the worries from the day fade away. After all, no one determines what’s important other than yourself. They sleep and they dream, but in every dream, there is a killer. When morning comes once again, kids jump mechanically into a school bus and parents robotically drive into the glass city for another day of work.

But the lights from the city are not just another fading lullaby. While small neighbourhoods are leaving behind the eventful day, the city is wide and awake. Under the blessing of the moon and the quiet laughter of a thousand stars, the proudly shining lights border the coastline. The shops and stores are far from closing while people come and go, passing through the doors while their bodies dance across the streets. Waving spotlights beckon for a night of movie marathoning while flashing signs lure carefree people to a night of feasting. 

Arms leaning to the ground, straining against the weight of the many bags from the countless malls, their laughter bounces off the roads. The night is still young. The beaming glow entrap the wild youth, no time for sleep and no place to hide. Where crying is not a sign of weakness but of strength, there is no time for tears. In the safety of metal cars, young life drive through intersections, away from regrets, until there was no telling where the streets began and where they ended.

As the cars drive aimlessly through the dark, they head back, searching for home. Wrapped in the warmth of the city life, they know that they have already found it. While we may gaze longingly beyond the clouds, the universe is gazing longingly back down at the vibrant city and its unforgettable tunes sung by the people.

While the neighbourhoods are quiet - doctors taking prescribed sleeps and businessmen shaking hands with their dreams, the metropolis hums with life. The glass buildings are far from perfect, but what really is perfect? The wrongs from the day and the constant worries are nothing as they are blinded by the city lights.