30 minutes before the appointment

Nothing special today. I still have to make the long, hot trip to the meeting place. A battle of speed and reflexes on asphalt. Occasionally, I slip through the gaps on the left and right of large vehicles. The sun scorches through my shirt. An iced coffee would be refreshing, I thought. Or maybe cold coconut water?

15 minutes before the appointment

Why do all the traffic lights turn red the moment I reach the stop line? How many times have I stopped on this trip—three? And why do people move so slowly when the light’s been green for two seconds already?

I’ve already lost my calm.

5 minutes before the appointment

At this pace, I’ll be late. So I pulled on the gas to shorten the travel time by a minute. I slip into the left lane to take an opening, then swing back to the right, then left again. When I made sure there was enough room to switch lanes through the rearview mirror, I saw the bicycle wheel above my head.

Which crazy person carries a bike on a motorcycle and drives on the main road? And three people riding on one motorcycle?, I thought.

1 minute before the appointment

I finally make it to the parking lot. But it’ll take another five minutes to walk into the building and take the elevator.

Okay, that’s it. I ‘m already late.

But the sky is blue. So I take out my phone, open the camera, and take a picture of it.