"And I feel the dark, in the brightest of seasons,/I feel the rain, when the sky isn't bleeding" - Slip, Jacob Lee

I was walking frantically on the streets, searching for my building in the directions that my phone's screen was showing. Crowds started thinning, leaving the wet streets empty.

I stopped at an empty crossing and gazed at it for a while, my eyes welled up. The streets looked left alone, these streets that have been spectator of thousands of people, shops, rejoice, frustration everyday; that have been audience of laughter, busyness, car-honks. Now they were lying alone.

The sky had washed the enervation away from the streets. They looked fresh, but downhearted; trying hard to hide its solitude by pretending to look bright with the reflection of the city-lights.

I resembled the streets, decorating myself with reflection of happiness with solitude inside. My heart ached; for one moment, just one moment I wanted to break down. I wanted to melt my tears away with rain and cry out with distant thunder. I wanted to stop pretending that I could deal with everything alone and didn't need any help.

The streetlights were dissolved in the rain on the streets, making it more radiant. I remembered I had to reach my apartment as I didn't feel safe outside this late. But, was I even safe at my place though?

I couldn't feel any lonelier. I had moved out of my home a decade ago, and have been flying from cities to cities, chasing my dreams. There have been tough times where everything was hard to handle, but I had stayed strong. But maybe it was time that wore my shell off.

Walking alone on my way home, I was feeling helpless. Up until a fortnight ago, everything was going fine, my life with my job, independence. Few nightmares just turned everything upside down.

I wanted to go home, not an apartment with emptiness and independence; but with lights, warmth, laughter, hugs; and feel loved and wanted. I wanted to be in that place where my 7 A.M.s weren't 7 P.M.s for the ones I love.

I wiped my tears away, unlocked my phone. It showed my place four blocks away. I couldn't quite map it as I was lost in some other neighborhood. I sped up with my phone's direction.

My phone beeped "2 New Messages" on screen.