My Year Alone

While everyone else slept, I lived.

Letting my mind wonder, trying to
create, trying to invent, trying to
understand what life is all about.

I reminisced of old friends and
past loves. The mistakes I have
made, the people I've hurt and
on occasions I would toast the
small successes of life.

On occasion, I would venture
out around town, snapping pictures
where I could watch the world
sleep. Breathing the cold air,
exhaling the warm vapors,
making up stories of fictional
characters, that like me, stayed
up all night.

It was a different life, one in which
I was able to be whoever I chose.
Had no bothers of judgments
or feeling uninvited. Always looking
forward to what could be, sometimes
forgetting about the things that were.

And now here I am, at least an extra
year of thoughts, experiences and
day dreams. It's the only time I
have to myself. The time I have
without worries about responsibilities.

But eventually everyone else catches
up with you. And time comes to return
to reality. One with "have to"s and
"should"s, one without the perfect
person to say just the right thing.
Without people who know just how to
cheer you up.

Hopefully as I grow old, I'll have a few
more of these years.