February 17, 2022

Standing at an intersection across the street from the Javits Center, I wait for the light. It’s almost dawn and I’m pacing back and forth. It’s as dark as the city can get. All the way over on Eleventh Avenue the Hudson feels close. I look west at the Javits Center. All of the lights are off and everything is glass and steel. I’m running. Three miles in and I’m waiting for the light to turn. I want to keep going north. I think I’ve timed it just right. The stakes are low as only a few cars are out this time of the night. It’s not quite morning. I look left and all is clear. I take a few more strides and then a green sedan appears out of nowhere. The driver honks his horn and I’m stranded in the middle of the intersection. I look west and up at the light. It’s green. I find my way back to the sidewalk again.