Bearings

Daffodils bring London back to life in March; their vibrant yellow petals open from windowsills and fill St. James Park. They serve as a reminder that the days will begin to get longer, holding more potential then the measly 5 hours of sunlight you have been sustaining life on for months now. Last March, I spent these days walking. All day Saturday and Sunday, I would set out in the morning, taking either a left or a right. I imagined that if it looked like I was in transit, it would somehow mask the fact that I unfortunately had no where to go. It wasn’t until I was staring at the door to my flat that reality would dawn on me, leaving me appreciating the past 6 hours when I had forgotten about the loneliness I felt. With the Thames as my compass, and the daffodils as my cairns, I explored abandoned community gardens scattered amongst the brick buildings and more bridges than I thought possible. Then, with aching knees and blistered feet, I would return home at dusk to my new room and quiet house, just hoping I would be tired enough to fall asleep before the Netflix series Orange is the New Black ran out of episodes. Welcome to a new city, get your bearings, because being lost is a terrible fate.