Welcome to New York

down,

down,

past the Insomnia Cookies café, the concept of which always makes me smile.

I cross at crossing after crossing; alternating between looking left and looking right because the roads are only one way.

I walk down,

and down,

and the humidity clings to me like a second skin, wrapping me up in a sticky, uncomfortably warm embrace. I cross over and over again.

Past Trader Joe’s, past Starbucks, past the bookstore — I make a mental note to go back there later.