Empire State of Mind

Empty queue lines unfold before me as I make my way towards my designated elevator. In my hand I hold a crisp white ticket, one granting me access to an express lane which I was expertly charmed into believing would save me an hours wait while scaling the buildings iconic (and noticeably unoccupied) floors. In just a few moments I would step out and take in the body of New York City.
Struggling to step down onto the balcony, I dodged a swinging backpack and began to inch my way towards what seemed like a less crowded corner. Every side of me was surrounded, and my small act of shuffling became a longer, more complicated process, of human clockwork. Eventually my fingers reached out and latched onto the fence lining the entirety of the concrete edge. The metal protruded into the sky, effectively trapping and protecting the crowds with an unsettling curved barbwire finish. The circular mesh impeded my vision as I squished myself up closely, squinting in an attempt to finally see and gasp in awe of the cities industrial beauty.

What I saw instead were buildings. Hundreds of them grouped together as a weak heartbeat of activity fluttered at their bases. Disappointment began to seep into my veins as I rotated to look out in another direction, hoping to feel a spark to re-ignite my excitement. My eyes focused in on something familiar, with vibrant ads and big letters. It was the department store Macy’s which I had visited the day before. And there to the left of it was the street I had gotten lost on and entered the wrong subway. Each new spot I looked a memory of my trip re-surfaced, a roadmap of success and failures whilst navigating a large unknown. Unbeknownst to myself, I began to smile, watching as the statue of liberty lit up in the afternoon sun and how the ferries sent ripples through the murky water.
It seemed right now, to end up here on my final day. To rise above everything I had seen and accomplished and be able to acknowledge them from another level. To trace my own footsteps through the well-trodden streets. I had conquered the charismatic world of New York alone, and here I was crowded in with dozens of others who had done the same. Turning off my camera, I turned to slowly make my way back towards the elevators, taking in the joyful expressions of those passing by. Together, without exchanging thoughts or words, relation or race, we all shared one thing. An experience.