A Modern Adventure
Time was of the essence; I had to make it.
The heat was rather strenuous for December, and I had to regulate my heart rate in order to prevent excessive sweating – I would be seeing the love of my life, after all. To turn into a wild, sweaty monstrosity… The thought was unbearable.
My final exam was finished, and a portion of my life was packed away into three large bags: a suitcase, a knapsack, and a laptop bag. The bunch weighed an incredible amount, but I persevered – I knew the price that I would pay for such necessary luxuries. I lugged the luggage from my room and turned for a moment to reflect on what I was leaving. The room was tidy and clinically-clean, but it did not have the warmth of the love that I was destined to feel. The dilemma that stood between myself and that dreamy feeling was hundreds of miles of road, several different forms of transportation, and a tight time-limit.
I had done this journey many times before, but it was much different this time around. There would be no ride for me to hop on to take me directly home once I got off of my bus, as per usual. Instead, after enduring the bus-ride, I would have to make my way across town to the Go-Train terminal. It seemed easy when it was planned, but it was a completely foreign, frightening idea on day zero.
The taxi-driver helped me move my luggage into his car, and we sped off towards the bus-stop. The land was very calm, but my heart pounded uncontrollably. I controlled my breathing and kept my eyes on the prize. It was a very peculiar feeling; I was terrified of the unknown, but the thought of seeing my love excited me. Together, they formed a percussion that shook through my entire being. When the taxi finally arrived at my destination, I paid him and quickly jumped out to inhale fresh air.
I felt more at ease. However, I turned around to see a line forming and a large bus flashing Toronto via Kingston. Here it was… the first step in getting to my love.
I got into the line and prepared my plan in my head. I would need my entire luggage with me in order to get off at my appropriate stop. I was getting off just before the Go Train station, and I recalled that they would not let those who got off to obtain anything from the baggage compartment. I made this plan knowing that I might be denied, and I was praying ever-so-softly that I they would not prevent this plan from unfolding properly. The alternative, if this plan failed, seemed indecipherable for my over-excited mind.
I approached the front of the line, and the attendant went for my suitcase.
“I do say, good sir, would it be possible for me to attend my baggage on the journey?” I bequeathed of him.
“Nai, feller, we gotta put it underneath,” he replied, without a hint of remorse.
“Egag, however am I to get off on my stop?”
“Shoulda thought ‘bout that before ye packed like a girl!”
With that, he took my luggage and threw it beneath the vehicle’s hull. I sat near the front in order to watch how many people were getting onto the bus. Once the all of the passenger were on, I jumped off the bus and spoke to the attendant once more.
“Sir, I understand your need for policy, but there is a spot open beside me where I might place my suitcase. Would you kindly allow me to do so?” I asked ever-so-kindly.
“Nai, it be too far in. Not gonna fish ‘er outta that mess.”
Defeated, I sauntered back onto the bus and took my seat. I moped for a second, and then suddenly shot up. I was determined. I had to take on my next plan, and it would never go through without the proper attitude. I had received directions in the event that such would occur, but I had disregarded them in my optimism that the first plan would pan out. I quickly opened my cell phone and searched through a sea of messages in order to find the ones I desired. I found it and read the map that its words illustrated.
The directions would have me travel through the city a couple of kilometers south of where I would be dropped off. With my entire luggage, I would need to run at least half of that, and then walk briskly for the remainder. I began to imagine how it would be, and my body began to allot energy to my muscles that would soon be tried very hard. I had to meet my train by approximately twenty minutes after I would get off the bus.
Just as I was about to accept that plan, I noticed an extra few words that I had not taken heed to initially. They read: 20 minute walk to Union Station or 5 minutes by subway. This changed everything. I would be able to keep my appearance sweat-free, and I would definitely arrive at the station in a secure time. One problem remained: I had never taken Toronto’s subway station. I began to recall the subway stations of distant lands – specifically Montreal’s. They were labyrinths that were seemingly impossible to make passage through for the inexperienced. One could get on the wrong train and end up on the other side of town! It was risky business.
I had a decision to make. Would I risk being late from not being quick enough, or would I be late from taking the wrong path in the maze? Despite the turn of events, I felt as if luck was on my side, and so I decided that the subway would be my next destination. Having all of that sorted out, I closed my eyes and rested.
When I opened my eyes, the sky had gone dark. The passengers on the bus sat idly, their heads moving with each bump the vehicle took and swayed with the comforting motion of the road. I looked down to my watch; It was almost time. I laid back, thinking of what I had just done, what I was about to do, and the many days to come. It all seemed surreal, and the nervousness that I had felt prior was slowing converting to excitement.
The sky began to brighten as thousands of lights appeared in the horizon. Buildings began to approach the bus rapidly – all of them aglow with glowing specks representing each of its denizens still awake. The buildings would fly by, and then even more took their place. Soon, the road was surrounded by buildings, each taller than the next. I soon found myself in the heart of the city.
We were no longer moving as quickly; instead, we were carefully weaving around pedestrians and other, smaller, vehicles. It was obvious that these roads were not intended for use by these larger vehicles, but the bus was capable nonetheless. Soon came the area that I had come to know very well. We pulled into the bus terminal.
I stood up, grabbed my belongings, and jumped out of the bus. I eyed my suitcase in the pile beneath the bus and snatched it quickly. Just as I was about to run off, I realized something that would throw quite the wrench into my gears: I did not know where the subway was. I quickly looked around for someone who would know. The first person I eyed was the attendant who had hassled me before. I went up to him, expecting another response of rejection.
“Hello again, could you please direct me to the bus station?” I asked in a kind fashion.
“Ai good sire. Go over to that building, go down the stairs, take a right, then a left, and you’ll find yeeself there. Ensure ye got two-fitty on ya to get on,” he replied with a smile. I was completely taken aback that he had actually given me a friendly bit of advice.
“Thank-you!” I shouted as I made for the building that he directed me to.
At the end of the attendant’s path, I found myself heading underground into a cement cavern filled with hundreds of others. I quickly made for the ticket counter, threw some money down, and was thrown a ticket back. I stuck the ticket into the till beside me. It chimed, and I pushed myself through. I entered a wide, open expanse full of signs, tunnels, booths, lights, and much more people. I looked around for the sign that fitted my needs best. I headed towards one that seemed to go south. Soon, even more signs began to appear.
I followed the signs for a many rapid moments, and ventured down a large flight of stairs. My suitcase clunked with each step downwards. I was excited, terrified, and thrilled at the same time. Eventually, I ended up standing in a dark tunnel with several others. Not a moment after I arrived, the lights of a subway car illuminated the cavern. It came in at an alarming speed, and then gradually slowed to a stop. The doors flew open, and several people came out. All that was left now was the open door waiting for me. Taking a leap of faith, I entered the train. The door closed, and we began to move.
I began to survey the area. There were many others on the train – likely returning home after a busy day. Each one of them was likely used to this, and would take the route every day. To them, masters of the underground, this was just another thing they had to do. I drew from their confidence. I began to gaze at the advertisements along the roof of the cart, and suddenly I remembered the maps that would often be entwined within these. Much to my relief, I found one, and it said that I would be reaching Union Cross station in three stops. I let out a relaxing sigh and leaned against one of the metal poles.
Three stops passed, and I began to collect myself once more.
“Here we go,” I thought to myself.
When the door opened, I was the first one through. I began to weave through the crowd at an incredible speed and with remarkable accuracy. Just as I was about to reach the stairs, I hear a voice cry out.
“Mister, mister!” it shouted. It was the voice of an older woman.
I turned around to see who she whose attention she was trying to get. To my surprise, she was suddenly approaching me! She caught up to me and held out a bright, white water bottle. I looked down in awe at it, and then grasped onto it gently. It was a small item to most others, but it was an item that my love had given to me. I cherished it, and yet I was incredibly surprised that someone would ever think of grabbing such a thing.
“Thank-you, so much. You have helped me in ways beyond my own knowing,” I said to her with a large hug. With that done, I turned for the stairs.
I hoisted my suitcase onto my shoulders and began to climb. Every step brought me closer to my ultimate destination. Thoughts of my love floated throughout my mind, and I held onto my water bottle – never to let it go. I reached the top of the stairs and emerged through yet another doorway. The room that I entered was magnificently lit, and there was a substantially greater amount of space. Shops, eateries, and plenty of gleeful people filled out the area – it was truly uplifting. I let out a sigh of relief.
However, after looking down at my watch, I perked up immediately. I had seven minutes to get to my train – and I still needed a ticket! I quickly looked for a ticket counter. I found it, but there was a horrifically large queue for it. I quickly secured my spot in it. I could only rely on fate now.
The line moved steadily, but the seconds continued to slip away. Just before the end of the line, there was a notification saying that my train would be leaving in the next minute. I ran up to the woman behind the ticket counter. I told her my destination and the urgency I was experiencing. She looked down to her book and informed me that there would be one more in seventeen minutes. It would be the last one for a matter of an hour. I let out a huge sigh of relief and gave her the money for the ticket. Completely at ease, I began to leave the area.
“Excuse me, sir. Sir!” I heard the lady shout. I turned on the spot, a knowing smile on my face. I had forgotten to grab my ticket.
I once again found myself thanking someone for their help. As I walked away for the second time, I realized just how hungry I was. I had plowed through all of that with nothing else but my love and intuition on my mind. I ordered a large meal of delicious bread and assorted Greek food from one of the stands. I took a deep bite into the bread and was filled with warmth. I then put the food atop my pack and began to head towards my designated train. I climbed three more sets of stairs, and a heightened sense of satisfaction began to seep into me the further I went. I opened the door at the end of the final set and was greeted by fresh, crisp air. My train was already there; I boarded it triumphantly.
I took a seat and began to reflect on all that I had gone through. I then began to think of the upcoming days that would be spent with my love. I felt as if I definitely deserved it. Just as the doors of the train was preparing to leave, I saw a man running towards it. The doors had begun to slowly close. Next thing I knew, the man dived through the small space that remained. The doors clicked, and the man brushed himself off.
“It’s amazing,” he began to say, “ten seconds could save you forty-five minutes!”
His words were very true. The journey had turned out perfectly, and I was now on my way to see the person who had fuelled me through all of this. I basked in the transformation of the day’s events as I leaned back and closed my eyes. Anything could have gone wrong, and yet here I was. I opened up a notebook to write in and a parcel of food to eat. My mind quivered excitedly with the thoughts of the adventure yet to come.