At the Boundary

Prologue

One day , led by nothing except a sudden impulse, I took the main avenue on the way home. It was not a shortcut, and I didn't plan on passing by any particular place there. It was merely something decided to do on a whim.

Eventually, I found myself in a part of the avenue that was full of tall apartments and condos, clumped together in one crowded skyline. Most of them were brand new but, here and there, I could see the older ones , some of them abandoned, like empty husks. I suppose one would be sick of seeing this crowded skyline every day but not me. They way they reached out to the sky reminded me of a dream I once had as a child, a dream of soaring through the skies with my own two wings. It was a stupid, banal dream, but then again ,I guess children wouldn't know any better.

It was approaching the end of August and yet the night air was chilling me to the bone, perhaps autumn was arriving a little early. The night was fast approaching, the streets were quiet, and I quickened my steps to hurry home. Suddenly, I once again felt that impulse, it was a feeling less akin to curiosity and more to familiarity, perhaps nostalgia even? I couldn't quite tell. It was as if an old and dear friend that I haven't met in years was calling to me from across the street and if I didn't go to them soon I would never see them again. Against my better judgement, I followed that premonition-like feeling.

My feet felt like they were moving on their own and I was merely tagging along for the ride. They brought me to the entrance of one of the older apartments in the area. It was also the tallest, built by some big shot mogul from a rich family in the seventies, if I remember correctly. The Apartment had seen better days, but it wasn't in ruins, it was as if it had only recently been vacated.

I entered through the front door and walked to the end of a hallway to an elevator. It was still working, the walls were lined with mirrors, but I didn't bother looking at my own reflection. I pressed a random button and the elevator started going up.

The doors of the elevator opened to a small storage room. It was mostly empty, except for the dust, with a door at the end. I went through the door and was granted a view of the night sky, the moon was out and shone brilliantly tonight. I was on the roof, it seemed. I smiled contently , finally here, I thought to myself.

When I reached the edge of the roof, I saw a view unlike any other. Perhaps it was the height or the cold, oppressive air or maybe the light of the moon was playing with my eyes, but the view of the city from here was wrong. My mind knew that it was the same city I've always lived in but every other part of my body was disagreeing. I felt sick.

Why am I here, again? What did I want to do?

But that's obvious, the voice of a dear old friend answered, You wanted to fly ,of course.