You wonder how long you've been lying in bed awake at this point. Normally you'd be sound asleep by now, but lately you've had a lot on your mind. You could just lie here and try to force yourself to fall asleep, but if it's anything like the last few nights, you'll just be lying here awake for hours. Instead, you decide to get out of bed and [[leave]] your room.As you walk out of your bedroom, you turn right past the restroom and begin to head down the stairs. Once you get to the bottom, you walk down the hall past the second bedroom which is now unoccupied.
You consider stopping by the [[kitchen]] for a snack as you're on the way to the [[living room]].As you enter the kitchen, you remember that it's been a while since you last went grocery shopping. Nonetheless, you should still be able to find something to eat. The [[refrigerator]] and the [[pantry cabinet]] would be the best places to look.As you arrive in the living room, you take a look at the clock and see that it is already 2AM. The living room is typically the most comfortable place to be. You take a look at all the familiar objects placed around the room. There is a single [[photo]] on the shelf, some [[medals]] hanging from a hook on the wall, and a small [[wooden bear]] on the end table next to the couch.
Since there isn't much to do at this hour, you decide to [[leave the house]] and go for a walk.You step outside from the front door and notice that the temperature is surprisingly comfortable for this hour. You don't really have a plan for where you're going, but there are a few main paths you could walk along. You can either walk left toward the [[//market//|market path]], right toward the [[//high school//|school path]], or cross the street and head toward the [[//office//|work path]] you work at.The path to the market is pretty straightforward. You just walk along a single road which winds left and right rather gradually. You're only walking for a few minutes before the front of the [[market]] comes into view.The path toward the school is definitely the least straightforward of the three. You have to make lots of turns onto different streets in order to get there. After about 15 minutes, you make the last turn onto the street where the [[school]] is.There is one long main road that will take you to your office. Once you're about halfway there, you pass by the town's local [[bowling alley]]. As you approach, you begin to faint music in the distance. You keep walking and the musics gets louder. It is clearly coming from in front of the market. Eventually you get close enough to see a group of 3 musicians playing music right out front. One is playing a guitar, one has a saxophone, and the last is playing a makeshift drum set. There is nobody else around, and since you're intrigued as to why they are out here so late, you wait for them to finish their song so you can talk to them. They tell you that they come here every night to play music in this same spot, and they ask if you'd like to sing a song with them.
You consider taking them up on their offer and [[//joining//|sing a song]] them, but also think you may be more comfortable simply [[//listening//|hang around]].Singing with them actually fills you with a sense of energy, which is surprising since you've never liked singing before. During the song, a few people show up and wave and greet the musicians with a kind famliarity. After the song is over, they ask if you'd like to [[sing another]], but part of you wants to stop and [[talk]] to the few people who just arrived.As they continue on and play their next song, a few more people arrive and wave at the musicians. They seem to be familiar with each other, and the new arrivals sit down and begin to listen as well. Once the song is over, you decide to go over and [[//chat//|talk]] with the ones who just arrived.You continue singing with them, and over the course of the next few songs, another 20-25 people show up, many of them carrying instruments of their own. You quickly realize that all of these people already know each other. Between songs, many of the musicians rotate in and out to have their turn playing, but it seems they let you keep singing since you're the newcomer. It's like you're all having your own mini concert among the group of friends, all performing with so much energy.
After a few songs though, you decide to [[let someone else have a turn]] and stop singing.You start by asking if they know the musicians, and it turns out they do. They tell you that that there is a sizable group of people who all come here and share their passion for music with each other every night. They claim that another couple dozen or so people will probably show up soon. They continue playing and you continue [[listening]].As predicted by the others, about 20-25 more people show up over the course of the nect few songs. They are all friendly with each other, but since you don't know any of them, you feel like an outsider. Feeling uncomfortable at that point, you [[//leave//|home from music 2]] to head home.As you stop performing, the group is excited to meet and talk to you, and they tell you that you did such a great job singing. You stay and listen to a few more songs before you decide it's time to leave, and as you go, they tell you they'd love to have you come back again some other night. You leave toward [[//home//|home from music]].On your way home, you think about how much fun you had while you were there. It's suprising since you've never been much of a performer, but you still had a great time. You think that you'd love to head back and be with those people again some other night.
Once you arrive at home, you realize you've only killed about an hour, but all the singing has you so exhausted so you head to bed anyway. You are easily able to fall asleep now.On you way home, you think about the experience, and wonder what would've happened if you decided to sing with them like they'd asked. It did seem like they were all having a good time, so maybe it would have been fun. Once you get home, you realize you only killed about 30 minutes with that walk. Out of ideas, you head back to bed even though you know you won't be able to fall asleep. Once you turn onto the street of the school, you take notice of the long straight road that goes in front of it, and how it is so empty despite how busy it is during the day. Then, out of nowehere, two cars come racing down the road next to each other. A few more pairs of cars come down the road before0 the first two get their turn again. You've heard of cars street racing at night before, but never actually seen it for yourself.
Thinking this must be very dangerous, you consider [[//calling the police//|call the police]], but also feel a desire to just stay and [[watch]] the cars race.As the cars continue to race down the road, eventually a police car shows up and catches one of the drivers speeding. Of course, he can only catch one and the other car leaves. You stick around for a while after the policeman leaves, wondering if the other will continue racing with the remaining cars. They seem to be gone for the night, however.
You begin making your way [[//home//|home from race]].You just watch as the cars continue to race down the street. You start to become a bit interested in which of the cars will win their race each time. And as another pair comes down the street, you see one of the cars lose control and hit the other car.
After the cars collide, one of them takes a slow tumble while the other veers off the road and is stopped by a metal fence. In a panic, you quickly pull out your cell phone and call [[911]]. On your way home, you think about how street racing is something they could only do at night because of how empty the roads are. You wonder how often they do this, and you also wonder if they'll come back another night, or if being caught this time will deter them.
As you arrive at home, you notice that about and hour and a half has passed since you first left. You've been awake for a long time now, so you should finally be able to get some sleep. You head to bed still thinking about the street races. The fire department and an ambulance arrive to assist, and you can tell that both drivers are still alive but not in great shape. As the ambulance leaves with the drivers, you decide to head [[//home//|home from race 2]], still in shock.On your way home, you think about how tragic the accident was, but also imagine that these drivers knew the risk they were taking. You wonder how often this type of thing happens, and wonder if it had happened in that same spot before. You hope that the two drivers end up being okay, and you wonder if you'll ever know what happened to them.
As you arrive at home, you notice that almost 3 and a half hours had passed since you left. You really should sleep now, as you have to be up early tomorrow, but thinking about what happened deters you from going to bed. You know there is no way you'll be able to sleep after witnessing something like that.You're surprised that at this hour you hear so much noise coming from inside the bowling alley. Curious, you decide to go [[inside]].Once you're inside you remember that the bowling alley has an arcade, a bar, some pool tables and some dart boards. It's been years since you've even been there. In fact, the actual bowling alleys themselves are not even open right now.
Apparently this is a very popular night time hangout spot, as there are a lot of people here.
You have some desire to head toward the [[pool tables and dart boards]], but you'd also like to [[sit down at the bar]] and order a drink.Once you're there, you recognize an old friend you haven't seen in years. You play a game of darts together, catch up, and exchange contact info. You agree to hang out again some other time. Afterward, you decide to return [[//home//|home from darts]].After you get your drink, a man begins talking to you. He introduces himself and notes he hasn't seen you here before. He explains that most of the people here come here rather regularly, but he is still friendly and welcoming. You talk for a while, and then the man leaves for the night. You finish your drink and head [[//home//|home from bar]] too.On your way home, you think about how much of a coincidence it is to see someone you recognized there. You're excited to meet with them again. It's a surpisingly pleasant outcome for a walk that really had no purpose in the first place.
You arrive at home and feel happy that you have someone to spend some time with sometime soon. You head back to bed and are easily able to fall asleep.On your way home, you think about how you liked the lively energy there. You think it may be nice to come back and be one of the regulars like the man talked about. It seemed like a very friendly community of people.
As you arrive at home and head back to bed, you look forward to going back there one night and playing some games with the people there.As you open the refrigerator, you spot a few grapes that are still yet to be eaten. You grab them and eat them as you continue making your way to the [[living room]].In the cabinet, you find a small bag of chips. You open them and begin to eat, but it's not long before you feel full and put the bag down. You then leave the kitchen and continue making your way to the [[living room]].You pick up the photo from the shelf and examine it. It's a picture of you with your daughter. You remember the day this photo was taken rather clearly, as it was taken only last year. Your daughter was 17 at the time. You put the photo back down on the [[//shelf//|living room]].You grab one of the medals from the hook. It reminds you of your days as a runner in college. You managed to accumulate a few medals for your achievements over the years, and you remember the particular race that this one came from. You put the medal back on the [[//hook//|living room]]. You pick up the small wooden bear and hold it in the palm of your hand. You'd always thought it was interesting the way it was carved. It had been given to your by your wife as a gift a number of years ago. She haasn't been around for a while now, but you still miss her. You put the bear back down on the [[//table//|living room]].