Moments Like These

I gazed around at the sleeping city. Moonlight bounced off of the bright, white buildings, nearly blinding me. It was only a quarter moon tonight and I could hardly imagine what it was like during the full moon. I couldn't sleep. That was why I was out here, exploring this strange city. It's hard to believe that just a few hours ago, this city was filled with thousands of people. People like pushy salesmen that would try to sell you so many different, "original"knick knacks if you so much as glanced in their direction. Or mothers, with three kids and only a two seat stroller. She was trying to convince the oldest, in vain, to simply walk while the other two got a ride. People with their everyday lives, but now, it was silent. So silent, I swear I could hear the silence. It was quiet enough that I could hear my heartbeat in my chest as I marveled at this magnificent city. I could feel the smooth pavement beneath my feet as I walked, eventually turning into stony cobblestone. I didn't know where I was going, but it just felt right. I walked and walked until I reached the city wall.

My breath caught in the back of my throat as I looked out across the flat grasslands that surrounded the city. There, I saw dancing in the grasslands, millions of fireflies. Winking in and out of existence, without a care in the world. How I envied them. I stared at this marvel of nature for so long. Somehow, I managed to pull my gaze away, and when I did, over on the western side of the city, I saw a staircase. The normal reaction would be to return to the hotel and try to sleep, since I didn't know what time it was or how long I had been out. Curiosity had different ideas, though. With one last, longing glance at the lightning bugs, I turned around and walked as quickly as I could in bare feet on the rough cobblestones that covered the less fortunate parts of the city. Trying not to run, I used the faint, white moonlight reflecting from the buildings to guide me, I walked. Faster and faster, I couldn't wait to get there. To see is. Something about that mysterious staircase drew me in. Maybe it was the only tree for miles around that stood there, tall and proud. Or maybe it was the small, rickety gate that had no apparent purpose other to annoy the travelers as they entered and exited the city. It certainly wasn't to keep them out. That gate wouldn't even be able to keep out a determined chicken, much less crowds of tourists, or an advancing army. I didn't know what it was, but I figured I shouldn't be too far from it now. I gave up. I ran as fast as I could, which is to say, not very fast. My short legs and small feet don't really do you well when you want to get somewhere fast, but I must have had luck on my side. I reached the staircase quickly and halted abruptly once I got to the top. You know how people will tell you to never meet your heroes? They are wrong. It is worth every second. I stood at the top of this magical, quaint, little staircase and took a deep breath. I breathed in the wild things, out in the savannah, I inhaled the freedom. Breath after desperate breath. I had never felt so much emotions. Rage, at humankind to evolve into civilization where this no longer exists. Peace, because I knew that the earth had not yet been destroyed. Determination, determination that I would do something to fix this, something to preserve this, this feeling, this experience. I wanted other people to have this too. No one should live without having moments like these. In fact, I believe that we live specifically for moments like these. Emotions that are indescribable to anyone who has never experienced them. Moments filled with such magic that you are unable to breathe. Moments like these.