A short story

Jake finally awoke, half sunburned, lying on the pavement. He wiped at the cracks in his skin, removing the blood that had dried overnight. He didn’t think it would be like this. Only years ago, he gave up everything he had and hit the road with only a few cigarettes in his pocket.

Chicago to Columbus, Columbus to NYC, NYC to Montreal. It had been a tough hike, with plenty of obstacles involved, but Jake was intrigued, not taken aback. Though college never really panned out for him, he learned and explored every waking moment. He caught on fast, as most do when they have to. When he was hungry, he learned how to feed himself. When he was tired, he learned how to protect himself and sleep. That’s just how it went. Survival of the fittest.

At school, he used to be subjected to rigid schedules and tight deadlines, all racing towards a dream grave. “Not me,” he said. “I’m going to change the world.”

But waking up in an alleyway with the sun burning down upon the holes in your shirt and your wounds can really change a perspective quickly.

Maybe it was too late. Maybe he wasn’t trying hard enough. Maybe…he wasn’t going to change the world. It’s a shocking revelation, but then he looks around him and sees the life he has taken on. Does it look anything like he wanted?

No, and this is the where dreamers die. There are two options: make it the life you want or settle with the one you’re handed. It takes courage to grow, but it’s more rewarding in the end. Why settle for anything less than you feel you deserve?

Nobody said it would be easy. Nobody said there was a cure all for this.

He trudged out and was glanced up at the sky. It was pretty beautiful out. Fishing a few quarters out of his pocket, he figured one or two more would earn him a lunch. He walked on to check for a populated spot, while softly muttering, “Yeah, I’ll change the world, when I have time.”