Look Around

Down from the busy streets of the city into the underground chasm-like subway entrance. The stairs beneath my feet, a dyed gray-greenish color, covered in grime. Drips of icy water free fell from the railings above, making their way through the tight gap between my coat collar and the skin of my neck. They hit my back with such cold force, it makes the hairs upon it stand higher than a kite flying in the chilled winds of the over-world. The gate poles, that stood one each side of me, were tall, dulled silver and from what I could imagine, stone cold. The scent of wet mold and under cooked food stretched lightly and horribly through the air. The sound of screeching metal on metal, soaked footsteps and constant chatter were sent through the space ahead of me like an armed assault on my ears. Stepping one foot at a time into the subway entrance I knew this was only going to get worse.

Some people would be happy to be out of the winds and rain of the cruel monster of a city above, but this retched place was hardly a viable substitute. I took small steps further in. A long hallway stood ahead of me. Each of its sides were covered in half-torn posters, advertisement screens and graffiti. The repetitive smell of undercooked food and salt, which invigorated my taste buds, came from a small portable hot dog kiosk ahead. The man behind it looked like he enjoyed his job as there was a huge grin upon his wet and greasy face. That being the case, his customers didn't look as happy. Everywhere I looked within the hallway, there was a lack of color. The people who would push past me, the posters on the walls, even the look of the hot dog stand, all seemed as if they were colorless and gray-scale. From the loud echoes of mobile phones ringing and people shouting to the silence of water dripping into small puddles, the assault on my ears was no different from outside.

Another day on the way home from work, all to be repeated again tomorrow.