Only the 

international students

were around on this 

cold

, wet day, when late in the evening a sharp

hunger

abruptly hit. I had been so exhausted from finals week that my fridge had nothing but old 

condiments

.

I had nothing on my schedule. So i put on my coat and took a walk down to the main strip. It was strange to take this walk with nothing I had to rush to. No time pressure. I could drag out the fifteen minute walk to whatever duration I wanted, taking detours here and there.

Usually I had to zip through 

campus

, running barely on time. And still I found those walks quite calming. Maybe because they were the only time when I wasn't letting my mind focus in on something like being in a classroom or alone in my room might beget.

Something about taking a 

walk

allowed for my mind to wander free in a way where I felt lighter. Free.

I couldn't get over how odd it felt not having to be somewhere. I kept feeling it until the moment I arrived at the 

Chipotle

. So many dinners and lunches I had here in the past semester. Any pretending I had done to actually cook regularly had jumped out the window quick.

My hand held the handle for a moment. I looked inside, saw the workers staring out into space. I imagined how much I'd like the meal and it wasn't a good forecast. I wanted something good. Something homey this night. So I let go of the handle and continued walking.