there was that one time i was driving in my 2018 volkswagen jetta (white silver metallic) which i swear was actually a light baby blue despite its name. i had just gotten out of school and was driving down orange grove heading to the on ramp of the freeway vaguely noticing the street lamps with their spherical frosted glass bulbs passing by one after another. it is so familiar to me, this path, after having gone down it multiple times a week multiple times a year for multiple years of my life. last summer when i went home and was driving back from frances's apartment i found myself traveling down it in this sort of dazed autopilot feeling like i was back in high school again with my bright pink parking tag hanging off my rearview mirror threatening to fall again and my millswear khaki skirt rolled up slightly too tight and digging into my waist. that day i had managed to turn onto the on ramp before the flashing arrow light turned red, a miracle really, since it had always been incredibly and frustratingly short with a minute and thirty second wait before the next chance at green. and as i drove on i was looking down at all the cars zooming past below and suddenly the sun illuminated the concrete barrier in front of me creating this perfect golden square of light and i had this sudden feeling like i was finally awake.