3 a.m. | Teen Ink

3 a.m.

August 30, 2023
By EmilyChen GOLD, Shanghai, Other
EmilyChen GOLD, Shanghai, Other
10 articles 0 photos 0 comments

It was dark outside, the streetlights were off, only few beams of light were swaying, hidden through the curtains of two or three homes, like little stars in a vast universe. The night chill permeated my room through the glass window, and the smell of hot air from the heater seeped into the soles of my feet, making me feel a mixture of ice and fire.
 
As soon as I got close to the window in front of me, the temperature instantly got a few degrees colder, and the white rain stains on the window were like a filter for the shimmering light outside. From a distance, the rain stains refract different light. I can see reflections on it, now it turns out to be a perfect mirror.
 
When I was facing the cold, my room was imprinted on the window, with yellow wallpaper, books of various colors, ornaments, and toys, I could feel the heat filling the room on the cold window, everything was still. As I turned sideways, squinting my eyes and pressing my cheek against it, the fog formed small, fleeting white circles on it as I breathed, and all I could see was the empty elevated behind me. There was a car, running on the tarmac at 3 a.m. 


The author's comments:

This piece is a true record of my room on a winter’s midnight. There are times when I love these meaningless moments, and take in my surroundings carefully. No need to be busy and anxious like in the day time, emptying my mind, and listening to the sound of my heart beating always give me a sense of security that is so precious. The cold outside and the warmth inside seem to tell me that everything is for the best right now. It's inevitable that we're all lost when it comes to life and the future. But why not slow down, sometimes there is beauty in emptiness and uncertainty.

There are a few lights still on in the building across the street, what are they thinking?

Emily Chen is a 11th grader from Shanghai, China. Her interests span literature, gender studies, and economics. She is committed to promoting gender equality and has posted some book reviews and creative writing through social networks. Her work has been recognized by New York Times. She likes to travel, listen to music, and paint pictures. 


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