CONCRETE REALISTIES

The buzzing of the streetlights hummed like an untuned symphony as Leon walked down 145th Street, his hoodie pulled low over his forehead. The air smelled of rain and car exhaust, and somewhere in the distance, a siren wailed. Harlem had changed over the years, but some things stayed the same—like the way the streets swallowed people whole if they weren’t careful. Leon had learned that lesson the hard way. At 28, he was just another face in the crowd, trying to keep his head above water. He had once dreamed of making music, of writing lyrics that would outlive him. But dreams didn't pay rent, and in this city, rent waited for no one. So instead, he worked two jobs—one stocking shelves at a bodega, the other doing security at a nightclub. "Yo, L," a voice called from across the street. Leon turned to see Darnell, a guy he grew up with, leaning against a rusted mailbox, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Darnell was one of those cats who never left the block. He was still caught up in the same hustle they'd all tried to escape when they were younger. Leon hadn’t seen him in months, but the streets always had a way of pulling people back together. "You still dodgin' the old life, huh?" Darnell smirked, exhaling smoke. "Man, you could be making real money with me." Leon shook his head. "I ain’t tryna end up in no cell." Darnell chuckled. "Ain’t gotta be like that, bro. You know I got ways." Leon knew exactly what that meant—quick cash, easy money. But nothing in this city came without a cost. Just then, his phone buzzed. A message from his sister, Kia: "Mom’s not doing too good. You coming by tomorrow?" Leon exhaled sharply. His mother had been struggling with diabetes for years, but lately, things had gotten worse. He barely had time for himself, let alone to sit at her bedside. But she was still his mother. "Yo, you good?" Darnell asked, flicking his cigarette onto the pavement. Leon pocketed his phone. "Yeah. Just life, man." Darnell nodded knowingly. "Life don’t wait for nobody." As Leon walked away, he thought about those words. Life didn’t wait, but it sure as hell ran people over when they weren’t looking. And in this city, you either kept moving, or you got left behind.