Train Ride

He’d spent the last year of his life roaming around the country. Two months in every city he’d wanted to visit. Life hadn’t been easy for him. His mothers unexpected death left him living with a dad who’d been unsure of how to raise a kid. Both were traumatized in their own way. His dad had disassociated over time. He’d not taken care of himself in the last few years prior to Harley leaving. He’d worked his way from place to place. Experiences that gave him a different perspective on life. He’d been a Dishwasher or Barista everywhere he went.

He’d written down all of his experiences. A diary of sorts of everything he’d seen. Of everything he’d been through. He’d seen humanity on a variety of levels. He’d used his insomnia against him. Two days of working and roaming around with no sleep would often leave him tired enough to finally sleep. He’d seen aspects of Humanity during that time. He wasn’t so sure what to make of it all as time went on. He’d seen enough to have some faith in Humanity. He saw changes that needed to be made. To help others survive in life instead of struggling.

He’d wanted to stay in New York after being there for four months instead of the two he’d originally set aside. He’d fallen in love with it. He saw himself staying there permanently. He wanted to go to California though. He knew he’d need to save a little more money to be able to survive there. To keep a roof over his head mainly. He knew an extended stay hotel would be the best option. As usual. He knew things would be far more expensive either way. It was California after all. Everything had been far more expensive there.

He’d spent a grand total of six months in New York before boarding a train for California. He reflected on his experiences in New York. He’d worked as a Dishwasher at an upscale Restaurant. It’d been one of the few reasons he’d been able to save the money he’d saved. He wasn’t so sure it’d be enough to survive in California. He knew he was going to make it work either way. He spent the train ride reflecting on the life he’d once had. On the trauma he’d experienced. He’d let himself cry for the first time in over a year.

He’d finally had the life he’d dreamt about. He’d been able to make a decent life for himself. Despite the fact he’d worked from place to place. He was on a train bound for California. He’d seen the country by simply roaming around. He’d done what he’d wanted to. He’d experienced life the way he wanted it. He’d gone no contact with nearly everyone in his life at the time he’d gone no contact with them. He’d not made any Social Media posts since he left. He’d not reached out to anyone. He’d dropped off the face of the earth so to speak. To let himself move through his traumatic past in a way that helped him heal.

He reached to a few people after getting to California. He made a Social Media post a week later updating everyone on everything. The comments were in the hundreds in less than an hour. He’d made sure to update in a way nobody could question anything. People still had questions though. He’d answered the ones he’d seen. He had a life already in the short time since he’d arrived in California. He’d gotten a job in Marketing. He was far happier than he’d ever been. He knew he was going to love his new job. It was a new adventure he was ready for.