I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
                                                       ~Robert Frost

Seated on a bench beneath the burning maple tree; the air crisp as winter started to settle in. A bright red leave danced upon the breeze and unto her open book. Looking up, the glaring light stung her eyes, as she closed her eyes she took in the warmth of the sun that filtered through the assortment of ‘summer’ colors. Her hands made the simple movements of closing the book, the rest of her was as still as a statue... In that moment, she looked as though she could fly at any moment - into that azure sky.

In the distance a symphony echoed - few would ever think that the chaotic noise of a city could be ‘musical’.

Another breeze brought her back to reality, stormy blue eyes greeted the world once more, but a silent cry remained there in the corner of her vision. Putting her book away in her backpack; not wasting a moment more; she stood up to leave the tranquil park to meet with the buzzing Berlin streets.

The Huxleys Neue Welt was swarmed with ques of pushing multitudes, Yvonne just shook her head, the ‘true’ fans in the mass swooned as they excitedly awaited the doors to open. She had seen the adverts in the area about “Chronos”, an Asian band, but it had completely slipped her mind that it was today. The hotel had even given her a complimentary ticket, taking it out of the backpack's side pocket she figured she could just as well go see what all the fuss was about with not much else planned for today or tomorrow for that matter other than finishing ‘Gulliver’s Travels’.

A concert could ease her boredom and perchance provide for inspiration?

Standing off to the side as not to be stampeded over by the more aggressive ‘fans’, she took out her phone, earphones propped neatly in her ears, she listened to music as a means to drown out the crowd.

When the doors opened the facility volunteers did their best to insure none were pushing through while scanning ticket-after-ticket. Finally Yvonne, after the mob thinned, stepped in line and went in. Preferring to stand at the far back, not in the least interested in being part of the pulsing life, she was already feeling the weight of the world press on her – she hated crowds! Step-by-step her back propped against the furthest wall and as a further measure, as though she could do magic, she made herself blend into the nothingness; the quiet shadows.

When Chronos walked out on stage screams filled the space. The deep bass sounded above the throng and brought a sense of calm over the masses as they started singing. A rhythmic beat bounced off the walls, metallic notes rang confidently and words… Her Korean might not be the best, but she could make out some of it, the lyrics were… meaningful… In more ways than one, it seemed to resonate within her.

~There’s nothing more I want than my freedom~ The lyrics left her dazed...

She repeated the words over and over.
~Freedom~ She thought... as she clutched at her chest, a tightness squeezing the life out of her... She felt more 'trapped' as the seconds dragged on, making her way out she left early, convincing herself it was to avoid the possessed fans before they would have a chance to show her their true (demonic) nature; but the truth was, she craved for the silence of her room.

The hotel was rather far by foot, but she did not mind, the hour was just wat she needed to clear her mind, and though the night was chilly; it too helped relieve her of her troubled thoughts.

Notebook and pen in hand, she inked the words down that came to mind as she took in her surroundings. Ignoring the slight stinging pain that threatened to 'burn' her feet after all the walking over the last two weeks and the ever persistent drowsiness from lack of sleep; the poem she was writing slowly took on a life of its own.

Her phone rang seeing the number she quickly decided to ignore it, when it went silent she switched her phone off to avoid the caller indefinitely! All her effort to lighten her heart now down the drain! Her eyes that seemed to swallow the night whole suddenly dimmed and a lonely sorrow danced at the corners of her lips…

“Why…? Why can’t I just live my own life?” Her whispered plea fell short from being heard by the starless night sky.