Escape the Day
            A crisp, mild, calm breeze floats through the air. The once brightly lit sky, filled with vibrant colours of mauve, violet, and sapphire, has now transformed into an endless void, only combated bythe blinding shine of the stars. The air is filled with the earthy smell of desert sage, powerfullyaccented by the recent thunderstorm’s rain downpour. As I sneak away from the comfort of my soft, cozy mattress, my mind remains conscious; gazing out over my surroundings. The still silence is only broken by the sporadicchirp of a bright green cricket, or the occasionallow flying red-eye flight passing overhead. The cool air conditioning seeps through the open window that I climbed out of.Comfortable leggings and a soft hoodie hug my small figure as I crawl to the top of the damp, rough, tile tower. The blanket that Itucked away in the crook of my left arm fills my soul with a homey warmth that combats the chilly shillings scattered all around me.My journey is halted when I reach the sharp peak of the stucco mountain, and begin todescend to a flatter and more concrete surface. Time appears to slow down to a stop up here. The whole town appears to be asleep. Once glowing with light, windows are now covered by wornblinds and houses look as if they were barren. The only source of illumination in my view are the sparse, metallic streetlights, and the shining celestial bodies up in the heavens.The streets below are barren of any movement, except forthe periodic scampering rabbit or preying coyote.
            I am secluded from the rest of society. I am a loner as I isolate myself on this rooftop. My only company is the silver crescent moon that rises slowlyabove the sloped mountain in the distance. The moonpops in and out frombehind the streaks and clumps of clouds that spread out across the barren sky. My wondrous eyes gaze upwards to marvel at the clusters of twinkling lights that fill the endlessblack void above me. I close them and just feel. I feel the cool, firm tile underneath my fingertips, withits grainy and coarse characteristics as I slowly glide my hands across it. I sense the slight earthy breeze flow through my hair and graze my face, made fresh and crisp from the therapeuticstorms of midday. I see the blinding reflection of the fluorescent moonthrough my relaxed eyelids. I breathe in the smell of the midnight desert as I slowly lessen my anxieties and slip into a state of calm and peace. Here,I’m not affected by any problems or daily struggles up here. Up here, it’s just me and Mother Nature. The natural song of cicadas and the slight pitter-patter of a sprinkle shower is music to my weary ears. This peaceful environment fills my soul with a familiaraura of relaxation.
            The leftover stardust from the sky settles in my heart as I breathe in the sweet air of the night. The beauty of the still,silent world is breath-taking. As the wind begins to pick up slightly, I grasp the corners of my grey blanket and hug it tight against my body. The onset of darkness brings the chilliness of isolation, as well as the overcoming feeling of being shielded from the blinding daytime.This is when I am at my peak of liveliness. As I’m surrounded by the melodies of the night, I am able to think more clearly. The absence of the blaring engines of passing cars allows me to truly concentrate and focus on the deepest of thoughts. I am beyond judgement up here on this secluded rooftop. Up here,I can openly be myself.
            The silver crescent is above me now. I lay on my back and feel the touch of thecool concrete beneath me as my eyes move upward to behold the reflective light. The only sight in my view is now the star-filled vault of heaven. It stretches on for miles, holding tens of thousands of floating orbs. Some appear more vivid and tinythan others, while some seem so close that I can almost reach out with my wind-chilled fingers and grasp them;absorbing their rays into my soul. The flickering lights of a passing late-nightflight cross my vision and disrupt my thoughts. I imagine the people sitting aboard that plane; they all have their own individual and unique stories. They each have hopes and dreams, just like me. The nights I spend on the roof are when I truly connect with myself and have a better chance to think more about the lives of others. I suddenlyrealize that the world that we live inis too small, yet socomplex. My mind seems to drift off and I get lost in time. The chirp of a rising bird snaps my conscience awake. I sit up slowly and turn my head as my eyes begin to adjust to the misty light appearing over the horizon. The brilliantlyglowing star pokes through the earth and the world begins to awaken. The sudden burst of colour signals that my time is coming to a close.I gather myself and slowly retreat down back to the window I first emerged from at the beginning of my dusky adventure. My mind snapsback into the reality I escaped from as I return to my daily schedule. I continue to constantlylook forward to return to the time where reality is frozen and the silent world awaits my presence.