So tonight I had to work for 4 hours, like I do every Monday, and by time I get off it's dark outside. I usually don't care because that's when I have my ipod in and sing out loud without having to worry about looks from other college students (that might be more for the dancing I tend to do sometimes too) but today of course was different or I probably wouldn't be noting it in a blog. On a day I already wrote a blog no less.
I usually don't have a flashlight since I usually take the main roads home, which are fully lit. I usually have more energy than I did today as well though. I got off work at 8:30ish. As in, really close to it. From about the last hour I had already noticed why tonight was different than other Monday nights. I was extremely tired. I slugged through clean up. I yawned to death. I was slow and dragging.
Now I just want to point out that its about a 15-20 minute walk home from the place I work at on Monday nights. Keep this in mind.
So, after clean up, I leave and put in my ipod as usual. I know I'm tired so I refrain from singing to conserve energy. I start my journey on a main road but today I think "why don't I take the shorter route since I'm so tired?" My tired body thinks "yes! yes! shorter means to bed sooner!" So it takes me in this route. Now the shorter route consists of a walk of about maybe 2-5 minutes through the Botany Woods. Now the Botany Wood's have a little trail system through them and aren't that large. It's just a random pack of trees in the forest. But they are big enough that in the heart, the lights from the surrounding roads and buildings barely shine, while the trees themselves are thin enough for the moon to shine down.
So during the walk to this place, I already had noted that my walking pace was a little slow. Just in case I started texting Nathan during this time (not like he could help me being and hour and a half away from me) but I started sending him situational updates, in case I die, then there's a record leading up to it. Though I guess, it would have gone better if he was responding to my texts. After I went through deciding that my average weight is just a bit high for any potential rapers to target and the possibility of survival if I sleep outside in the woods, he finally responds and begins a long night for him of telling me I can do it.
It's also important to note that at this time, the temperatures decent, and I'm pretty comfortable.
So I make it to about the heart of the woods where it's darkest and get captivated in how pretty the moon looks. I'm walking innocently enough and have noticed a few other guys on the trail. So I'm not too worried that I have made a bad choice in walking this way. My pace is still a bit slow but I'm making progress. But after a little bit passed the heart, I get a wave of exhaustion and lose my upright position. I inform Nate of this new development and he seems slightly concerned of my prone position. My only fear is, the sinking feeling that snakes are nocturnal and coming for me now. But I'm tired enough to not get up. His concern also stems from his noting that at home, it's raining and freezing. It's only slightly cold where I am, but that means rain is probably on its way. There's some pondering of what I'd do if it rains and I'm still laying on the path in the forest where no one but a guy an hour and a half away knows where I am in the middle of the night. While pondering this I hear an explosion by my ear. A squirrel has dropped an acorn right beside my head. The impact was deadly it seemed, and near enough to make me wonder if the mean squirrels of Miami were now depressed for a missed opportunity to remove the human scourge.
The involvement of attack squirrels compels me to get up and move on some more. I hadn't made it out of the woods but I was now close, I could see the roads and the bell tower and hear the boys soccer team practicing. my tiredness overcomes my burst of adrenaline and down I go. This time I'm snuggled against a tree and nestled in some leaves, that I did test for snakes first. Nate has suggested I get a move on and move inside at the least. I try to explain how tired I am, and how moving right now feels too much like a chore. We both agree that at the least, if I stay there all night, it's fortunate that I'm halfway to my first class tomorrow. I doze in and out between texts during this time and have also added on, instant messaging Nate's mom, keeping her updated as well.
It's around this time that I begin to notice, that I'm feeling a little bit cold. and the wind's picking up, as well as I can see my breath. I'm also incredibly thirsty and have a lot of homework to study for exams coming up as well. Things were starting to look a little grim. I checked my phone for the first time and notice its
9:21. I had been off for almost an hour. I would have been home 45 minutes ago, had I been walking at normal pace. I had no idea where the time went and that I had been out there for that long. this also explains why it's getting so cold. I noticed that I couldn't see the moon anymore and clouds had started rolling in. Rain seems impending. After a little while of gathering energy, I finally get up and start trudging homeward. I have so much homework to do, I needed to get home. A little ways away I cross over a vent in the street. this vent is shooting warm air up. I huddle up. I'm still texting Nate who seems, oh so thrilled I'm moving and making progress towards home. At this point, I'm really noticing how cold I'm getting. I can barely text coherently anymore. Here's what my texts were beginning to look like;
Me: I'm so thirstyuj nioy cool (im so thirsty not cool,)
"Pace decreasingg progress still apparent5" (pace decreasing, progress still apparent)
"Feel like hack in titanic nd have to keep tsalking to nto fr4eexe to death or was rios3e? too ubalert to rember" (Feel like Jack in Titanic, and have to keep talking to not freeze to death or was it Rose? Too unalert to remember)
"back to ggrundb again. Soclose tro doem" (back to ground again, so close to dorm.) At this point I had made it to the grassy area behind my dorm before passing out again. I was soo close to warmth and a bed.and I'm not sure why I was compelled to send this next text:
"grass snells weorsd" (grass smells weird) I'm just going to assume the cold and tiredness was finally over taking me. Good old Nate is still with me though and of course just says "Stop sniffing the ground"
After about 5 minutes dozing here, Daft Punk came on my ipod and motivated me to get up and continue, where I found my roommate who thought I looked like I'd been crying. I knew my nose was running but I didnt think the dirt had gotten that mixed in.
I finally made it inside! Then I remembered. I live 3 flights up. No elevator. I was still so cold. As I texted it to Nate "Nafe it idnsidem. 3 flighgts of staiurs ubfoirguvinbg. Using banister"
followed by "hopws I get baniss ter trightqam" and
"wallsk are nivwe"
After that I finally made it into my room. To do all the homework that compelled me to come home. That I'm not doing to write this blog. Oh well, least I'm warm.
