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Ambling. My favorite pastime since I finished school. No hassle...no teachers with bad breath...just walking in the cool...Ok. Who am I kidding? I am walking in the bloody cold but lovely New Hampshire weather. Wait, do I have my Blistex? Anyway, right back to ambling to the bus stop on Waverly Square, I mean Waverly Squuare. Ha ha...that Boston accent, I love it. Jeez it's cold. Hmmm? Dunkin' Donuts or not? Dunkin' Donuts or not? Think!!! Think!!! Ahh just go! Yes. Go to get my morning fix. Request hot beverage? Check. Fake smile to middle aged suit checking out my ass from the corner? Check. Put cup to lips. Yes. I can feel it already, the twitch, as it scalds my tongue and warms me to an acceptable temperature. Back to the bus stop I go, to join my brothers and sisters of public transport. Each, may I add, with a similar Styrofoam cup to mine. Wait! Wait! Hehehe... the bus driver..."73 to Haavard Squuare." God I love that accent. Anyway, two suits opposite me are struggling to hold their Styrofoam cups as the bus gives a violent jerk. Damn yuppies. Sex symbol wannabe next to them, giving me the eye over his cup of darkness. Like I'd date that piece of work, even if he was the last man on earth. Little do these people know that the darkness in their cups calls to me. -- Drink me! Drink and be happy again!-- The buzz they feel, I have let go...no, no... was released from 3 weeks ago. It is now replaced by the inadequate Vanilla Chia, I hold in my hand that leaves me with an unsatisfied tweak somewhere in my mind. Now I'm free...hmmm...free. Feels more like I'm in D block in Sing Sing. The darkness, my lifeblood, which recently ceased to course through my veins, now replaced by this weak vanilla antidote topped off with some years' old cinnamon that tastes like they grated charcoal on my Chia. Damn it!! I have to stop thinking about it. Come! Hurry onto that subway!!! Now to downtown Boston, "America's Walking City" and 4 more points for the yuppies who invented that slogan. Ahhhh!! The fresh air of Downtown fills my senses. That crisp, clean, refreshing.....wait a minute. I smell...no it can't be!!! My gaze is drawn to the brightly colored awning of Au Bon Pain and its cobble stoned seating area filled with people. Those wretches! How they tempt me with incessant sipping of my love, my foe, the darkness. Imagine, savoring every...last...drop and talking about God knows whatever trivialities in their meaningless lives. I wish to steal every cup of darkness from their grasps and feel the darkness, the pleasure of it sliding over my taste buds and down my throat. Forever mine!--Run! Run! My mind screams as temptation bangs away at its door with a sledgehammer. Go away temptation!!! Go away!!! Away!! If only I could fly! Fly beyond the parasitic tendrils of lattes, mocchachinos, au laits and cafe noirs! Then I will truly be free. My pace quickens down Washington Street. Towards? Towards? Towards what? Where? I don't know where I am heading but I know from what I am running away. The darkness that sits in tins, mugs and coffeehouses all over good, ole U.S. of A. Ohh! No, no, no. Bloody Starbucks, filled with happy people!!! With its cup of joe trademark...Tantalizing...almost life-like. Uhgg, happy couple exists with four cups...four!! Greedy Wankers!! Faster and faster, I go .Where am I? Hmmm.....lower Washington Street...near a bar...one of a million in Boston. Oh there it is! What I was looking for. Borders, my companion. Filled with books, just for me...and other millions who find things of interest to read here. In I go (but stupid me has forgotten one thing). As I greet the guard, I am reminded that Borders does not only have books and music but...but...a cafe! A cafe with it! My darkness! Legs stiffening...can't decide what...get a magazine. Umm which one, which one?!...442! Yes, soccer! Italian soccer, Spanish La Liga, Beckham...and...and...--ME. -- Who said that?--It's me. The darkness, or so you call me but I go by other names. Some call me Latte, cafe au lait and your favorite, French vanilla.--No!--Oh yes!--What's happening? My legs? They're moving! No, stop! Stop! And on cue the cute clerk at the counter says, "Hi Gena. Haven't seen you for a while. What can I get you today?"--"Umm I think I'll have one large ...." -- Come Gena. You know you want me. Just one sip and ease the pain. No more cold sweats, Gena. Look at those hands! Hahaha! Can't even write your own name without getting the shakes. You're useless! Pathetic without me! You hear?! Pathetic!! -- "Noooo!" Sorry Mark but I'm out of here. Gone. Gone. Out the door, yes! I'm free! I'm free! I'm......what's that noise? Oh no! A car! -- Should have listened to me Gena! Hahaha! You should have listened.