As the train broke out from the dimly lit tunnel it had been traveling down, a world hued red by the setting sun exploded into my retinas. It burned so vibrantly, as if ignited by flames.

Lined at its horizon, were tall, intricately designed structures of steel and glass. They looked small from so far off, yet their presence was ever as intense.

In much the same way light reflects off gemstones, the brilliant, warm red of the sun’s rays reflected off the distant city. It was alluring, a color which seemed to draw one to it. Almost, haunting in its beauty.

The train pulled into another tunnel, and the city disappeared behind a wall of earth.

With the lingering memory still burning brightly in my mind, the cart quietly rattled as it traveled down its steel tracks. Illuminated by the torch like lights that lined the walls, glowing a dim yellow.

…

The train arrived by night time. The subway station we got off at was brightly lit and relatively full, by my standers, giving the illusion it was still early. However, the digital clocks displayed on various LED billboards unmistakably read 9:34 p.m.

We had pulled up to the station and deboarded at precisely 9:30, the exact time scheduled to arrive. It amazed me to see how punctual the trains ran in the city. Back where I used to live, a bus scheduled to arrive at a stop may be late or early by anywhere between 10 or more minutes.

Not to mention, in my hometown, buses only arrived at a stop every few hours, while the trains here seemed to pull into the station one after another, continuously. With such a constant flow, that they’d care more about punctuality here felt odd.

Things were different here.

It was beginning to dawn on me that I was in a distant place, far, far from what I knew. Everything here was so different. That feeling was beginning to sink in.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. Letting it out slowly as I exhaled, I threw my luggage over my shoulder and began to walk, making my way through this maze-like labyrinth towards my exit.

Perhaps it was the density of people or because we were underground, but the heat down here was unbearable. For a night in late August, it was unusually hot. I was expecting it to be cooler, I even packed a light sweater in case it got too chilly.

Instead, it was hot and humid. While not enough to make you sweat, the sticky air felt gross on the skin. It made me want to hurry and get back on the surface, so that I could feel the cool night breeze once more.

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But beyond that, I wanted to finally see it. Up close, with my own two eyes. The city I dreamt so much about. A world I’d never known. One of possibilities. Of change. The time had come, and I was finally here. Just beyond the rising escalator, awaited my new life.

…

It was breathtaking. Just outside the subway, the city unfolded before me. Tall structures, of brick and mortar, of steel and glass. Of all shapes, cuts, and architectural design. Each one vastly different than the one before it. Both modern and old, coexisting with one another.

In the distance, connected to a large chapel which stuck out from the surrounding high-rise buildings, stood an antique clock tower. The clock, which must have been hundreds of years old, from an era before mine, still functioned. It hands ticking way the passage of time.

It was already 10 o’clock. Back home, I would have already been asleep by this time. Yet here I was, awake at this hour, in a foreign city.

However, I was hardly the only one out and about at this time.

The streets were brimming with people. Enough so, that it felt as if they could burst from oversaturation. Even at night, the streets were ever as alive. People of all sorts, of all different backgrounds, here for all different reasons. I had never seen so many people in one place. No. I had never seen so many people in all my life.

It filled me with excitement and childish curiosity. I wanted to run around the crowded streets, to explore the vast, seemingly boundless city. I wanted to take in all the sights, all at once.

But that would have to wait for another time. It was already late and tomorrow I started school. My parents had already made arrangements for a taxicab to take me to the apartment complex I’d be staying at while studying here. Housing they had also arranged beforehand. My stuff should have already been sent there and would be waiting in boxes when I arrived.

I pulled out the scrap piece of paper that had guided me all the way here. The cab number I needed to search for was written on it. I scanned the area for it and found it a few cars down, just off the lane for pick-ups.

I grabbed my luggage and walked over to it. As soon as the driver saw my face, he instantly recognized me. And, without needed to say another word, I got in and he began to drive towards my destination. It was slightly unnerving, riding in a taxi for the first time. Unsure of how I sure act, I simply remained silent. However, the excitement outweighed the nerves, leaving little room to feel uncomfortable.

As we fished our way out of the seemingly stagnant streets, the car drove up a ramp and into an elevated eight-lane road. Soon, we were zipping down the freeway at speeds I’d never seen a car go at. The buildings close to us seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye, while those further away seemed to not move an inch. It created a strange mirage, as if the city was constantly morphing. Changing its shape to reveal new sides.

Slowly the buildings began to merge together, as everything became indistinguishable from one another. Until they had stopped being individual structures and had become a single entity – named City.

…

Surely, I’d be unable to sleep tonight, I thought to myself as the night slowly crept along. As I made my way across the city, watching it pass me by, it was something I was certain of. As I stepped out the cab and entered a strange house, an unfamiliar room, the thought still lingered.

As I laid my head down on a new bed, a sweet, familiar scent wafted off the blankets. Slightly old and well used, yet as soft and warm as ever. In this bliss mixture of fresh wonder and nostalgia, I was wrapped by its warm embrace, and lulled to sleep.