The sun is already up and the sky is clear. It reminds me of a summer day. Something I haven’t seen in a while. I start muttering “What a wonderful d-” when my brother interrupts me with a loud cough and moans a little in his sleep. I get out of bed and go back to my place. It’s only around the corner so it doesn’t take me long to get there. I take a shower and put on some summer clothes. I equip myself with a big smile and my sunglasses and decide that I am skipping Uni today.I walk alongside the fresh morning air and into town. Go into the first Starbucks I come across and get myself a huge Vanilla Latte. I light a cigarette and keep walking along the park. I sit on one of the benches and watch all the people like busy bees doing whatever they do on their everyday lives. Today I am a spectator. I have no intention of interrupting the flow of things. I am not going to participate in life today. It is my self appointed day-off. Until 5:00pm. Because that is when my shift at work is and work I cannot afford to skip.

A woman holding a little girl by the hand soon walks past me and sits on the same bench. I have been spotted. I have to move to a new location. I smile to the young daughter and her mother and walk towards the sea.

The seagulls are everywhere and there are about 5 or 6 more people spread out at the long beach. They are staring at the sea and the waves that are licking the pebbles. I don’t stop. These people will know my secret if I do.

I keep walking and head to the Shopping Centre. I will not be noticed there. I light another cigarette and sit by the coffee stand outside. Depeche Mode’s “Precious” starts playing on my mp3 player.

People are passing me by not even noticing me. My plan has worked. I sit there lost in my own thoughts while I watch the parade of the bags in front of me. All filled with instant happiness. A self preservation instinct takes over me for only a second but I will not shop today. Today I will do nothing until 5. But my mind keeps on making lists of what I still have to do. Get present for Cate’s birthday. Meet up with Dave. Send out CV. Finish the programming assignment. This is not working anymore.

I look at my watch. It is almost 4pm. Time for me to go anyway. I walk to the train station. Get my ticket and walk over to platform 8. It’s time to go back. Break is over. The journey to work gives me one last view of the city from above with the sun setting in the background. It’s been beautiful. I can’t wait for Spring.