The day after graduation your mind is overcome with thoughts of your future. And what better activity for contemplation than a [[walk->2.0]]?
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/6U4jNDUtFkVOM/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="">
Though your feet lead you down familar streets, your thoughts bring you to newer and more uncharted places: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism">Who am I, what has shaped me, what am I doing,</a> [[what do I want->3.0]]?
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/15NwPgqPxTKAo/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="">
what a great day to explore! The end-of-the-year hoopla is over, and you’ve got time to continue your leisurely stroll.
The narrow streets soon lead you to a neighborhood commercial district.
And lucky you!You found the best al pastor tacos you’ve ever eaten and get to pet a friendly dog tied up outside a cafe!
From here you catch a glimpse of the bus that drives right by your apartment and you realize that it will lead you [[back towards home->4.0]].
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/SKGo6OYe24EBG/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="">You don't like being lost. So after a minute of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegelianism">shrewdly observing</a> your surroundings, you open your phone’s GPS, start the directions, and follow it back to [[familiarity->4.0]].
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3oriNUhx4FLc707jq0/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
Now that you're oriented again, you decide that since its a nice day you can stop by the park on the way home. (Plus it's a shortcut!)
As you stroll through the park, you see the normal sights: people lounging on blankets, some yogis on the field, and a few runners.
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/2dwejHC0H3mta/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes">
[[Down the path->5.0]], something red draws your attention. A little kid, who is clearly learning to ride a bike, is laughing with her parents. She loves riding her cherry red bike and her ponytails are swing wildly under her helmet as she tries to get her bearings.
And WOW, does she look wobbly.
[[Keep heading home->5.2]].
[[Stay in the park! Enjoy the roses->5.1]]
While you’re sitting. **Flashback** to your own first experience riding without your training wheels. You shake your head because that memory reminds you why you have trust issues...thanks Dad...
You're awakened from your cloud of nostalgia when panicked noises from across the street catch your attention.
The little girl has rolled away from her parents in your direction and is headed off the bike path for the road.
The path has a slight incline so she is [[picking up speed->6.0]].While you’re walking. **Flashback** to your own first experience riding without your training wheels. You shake your head because that memory reminds you why you have trust issues...thanks Dad...
You're awakened from your cloud of nostalgia when panicked noises from across the street catch your attention.
The little girl has rolled away from her parents in your direction and is headed off the bike path for the road.
The path has a slight incline so she is [[picking up speed->6.0]].
You lose. Thanks for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihilism">playing</a>.
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/njPdRtrrdyoVO/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="">
With these buzzing and bothersome thoughts, it is easy to get turned around even when walking the streets of a city you’ve lived in for the last five years. However, you’re a little surprised when you find yourself on a residential street you’ve never seen before...
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/uzpBFXNaA3EvS/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="">
After a minute of shrewdly observing your surroundings, you open your phone’s GPS, start the directions, and [[follow it back to familiarity->3.2]]...
[[Explore ->3.1]] a little, it’s a nice day...OH NO! She is headed toward where you are standing... at the edge of the sidewalk feet away from the cars zipping by...
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/13Cmju3maIjStW/giphy.gif" alt="panic">
[[You react. Jumping into the road in front of the bike. Hands outstrectched trying to stop her->7.0]]
[[You stand shocked and paralyzed->7.1]]
You can't help but be proud of your cat like reflexes to spring into action.
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/Vei8Nzmw5u8TK/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="">
A true <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism">humanitarian</a>! What you’re doing would make your parents proud. Surely you’ll be rewarded for your kind deeds.
Though you’ve hurt yourself in the process, you pat yourself on the back for putting another’s [[needs ahead of your own->8.0]]
In the last second, she clutches at her breaks. But you are ashamed of your slow response to help a child in danger.
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/lvzdeWk12qjmM/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="sad">
Can you really blame yourself? You’re only [[human->8.1]] after all.You step back on the curb to catch your <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism">breath</a>. You watch the little girl pedaling back to her parents.
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/UbTTOBd24AxAA/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="welldone">
Still floating on your cloud you turn around in time to [[see->bus]]...With a little gray rain cloud over your head you watch the little girl pedal back to her parents. You wish you had been able to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalism">do the right thing</a>
Before you go to cross the street, you turn around just in time to [[see->bus]]
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/BEob5qwFkSJ7G/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="">
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/s39YsHi7aWJTa/giphy.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="bus">
[[oh.->FINAL]]