A Passer Through In New York

I rise up slowly from the bed that I had constructed just a few months earlier. I look around the room, sleep-drunken, and notice the big red suitcase in the corner. My mind slowly drifts into the now and I remember the trip that I have before me. I look next to me and see a sleeping beauty - it would be hard to say goodbye, to her, to the city, to the friends that I would probably not see for many years to come. I stand up and reach the window - I look out and realise that these would be the last few glimpses of the city that I would see, from my flat in the 6th floor. It's not the easiest realisation but I am also noticing the slight feeling of relief. As much as I love the caribbean and it's people - there were a few small things that I had been starting to miss, like laughing with my family and connecting deeper with some of my old friends. Hence I leave with much anticipation for the journey ahead. As it wouldn't be just a simple flight, it would be an adventure. I leave for Cartagena that morning - I arrive at the airport with just enough time to briefly meet a friend that I had met while in Cartagena 4 months ago. From there the trip continues with a direct flight to New York - the culture shock is immense when I find myself all of a sudden walking along the sidewalk in Manhattan. I look up towards the lights of high towers that seem to slowly fade in the dark sky and clouds above. In Manhattan I had the extreme luck that Keaton, who I had met during my time on The Farm in Tennessee, was willing to come to New York from New Jersey and organised a place to stay the night. As I remain looking up in awe to the skyscrapers around we come to a halt at one of the many large crossroads, which at this time of night was still bustling with the busy nightlife of NYC. I look at the hundreds of diverse people passing, and see a lobster. 'Sorry what?' I think in brief confusion as I see a young dark haired man with a lobster in his arms standing on the crossroads with us.

"Excuse me, why do you happen to carry a lobster around with you?" I say as I gently tap him on his shoulder.

He turns to me and with a slightly drunk smile and light NY accent replies: "Well, you know. Like we were just walking along and I saw this stand selling lobsters. They were going to cook this one actually. Not that I care, but I was like 'I want a lobster', and then I bought it. I'm not sure what I am going to do with it though. Maybe I'll cook it later. I think it might be dying without any water..."

"Aha ok." I say, a little disappointed at the story.

"Do you like animals? Or lobster?" He follows up.

"Yes, of course we do!" Keaton replies with a wide smile as her face is lit up by lights of the passing cars.

"What would you do if I would throw this lobster on the road then? Maybe I should do it now. See what happens." He continues with a slightly evil smile on his face. It seemed as if he would feel 'schadenfreude' if we disliked his actions. In a way proving to himself that he could do as he desired. Maybe it's his, in my opinion slightly twisted, expression of freedom. Anyway, luckily we managed to divert the conversation into another direction.