The New York Scyscrapers

Only yesterday while passing the New York skyscrapers I felt a sudden sting in my heart. I felt scared, suddenly anxious and a sense of loneliness managed to make me feel a little down. These buildings! I never knew when I grew a fondness for each of them. I have to leave them shortly. Oh man! That word ‘leave’ doesn’t make feel good. I’ve heard of people missing their houses/apartments/pets/family and friends when leaving their home towns, but missing skyscrapers can certainly look odd.

It wouldn’t look odd if anyone was in my shoes…Since freshman year it has been five years since I first stepped in New York City. The first glimpses of the Manhattan skyline against the rustic sunset and the sparkling waters of the Hudson river was breathtaking..The buildings displaying their shiny glass and steel frame looked proud and pompous..remember clicking endless pictures and saving them as laptop wallpapers..little that I knew that these high rises would somehow be a part of my existence in the city.

Now it’s not a problem to explore the city without proper sun block or an umbrella since I know my favorite nook and corners where I can manage to get proper shelters. But back in those college days…torrential rain in the city wouldn’t look as appealing as it looks from the comfortable seats of a home theater. The shades of these towers would be the only safe harbor to run to. Venturing the city at late nights being a single girl would sometimes turn ugly as shady stalkers would hunt on their easy late night prey. Saving me would get easier if somehow I could delude them into thinking I know someone from one of these mansions. With heart rate over 100 bpm when I used to reach the columns, the creepy men would somehow recede. To me, something in these buildings always radiates the sense of power and protection.

Those post graduation days--with the fresh stings of the then-recent break up with my somewhat stable relationship and with friends being scattered and my sudden decision to change my career path, with family hardly being supportive and with a sick job with the sicker bosses my life was more overwhelming than I could handle. Running to the city in the eagerly awaited weekends seemed to be the only option. Once out of Port Authority and with the first sight of the New York Times building, I used to feel at home. Yesterday I was back at the World Financial Center area. I was acting as a tour guide to my parents. They were happy with my narrations and knowledge about the place. Little that they knew how hard it was for me to not share and tell them the best stories and experiences that are related to the place. Starting from my best birthday party under the palm trees in world financial center to my boyfriend ditching me at the same magnificent place, stories remained untold. I relived the experience when I ran out of the World Financial center and hid myself in the intricacies of the construction areas surrounding WFC. My ex’s search for me remained futile. He was feets away from where I camouflaged myself. But the columns of the skyscrapers seemed to play the game cooler than I expected. The light and shadow it exuded helped suppressing both myself and my most meaningless tears. I had to pass the same areas yesterday.. Liberty Street, Vesey Street, Salomon Brothers building, Headquarters of American Express and Lehman Brothers, NASD ,East 42^nd street, Wall street, West 14^th street and memories kept flashing back..It felt like I knew all of the towers in each of these streets..I wish these buildings could see how much I’m thankful to them. The feeling of solitude comes naturally for a single girl in early twenties when she’s by herself in a big city without proper support. But by some means I never felt insecure or hardly alone in the presence of these massive towering constructions. Times could have been harsh in freezing winters, torrential rains, isolated Christmases and post breakup periods in the city. But they never were. These constructions seem to have seen every phase of my young college life and helped me take control of it in the most silent and private way. I may not have the same wallpapers in my laptop anymore but if I miss something that I cannot take with me to the new city that I’m about to explore soon- that will be these towering knights of mine-the New York skyscrapers.