Night Adventures: Liverpool
ZILLO Young Reporter Cat Stenhouse takes us on a lyrical nighttime stroll through the illuminated streets of Liverpool, reflecting on the city's vibrant lights, the absence of stars, and the unexpected inspirations found during a coffee-fuelled break from studies.
The cold December air hit my nose as I left my flat to begin my break for studies. I set myself a goal to get myself a fresh coffee to enjoy on my walk before I went back home to my books and notes.
What I noticed was fascinating. The moon shone yet its light was not needed for the city lit its own. That did not mean its presence wasn’t noticed as a white circle shone brightly within the skies of Earth, the dark black clouds unable to reach it to cover it. So off on my orange lit paths I went through, trying to look for hidden treasures within the landscape of the city I reside in.
The everyday buildings that I was so used to hid behind the shadows of other buildings, yet letting the light through inside themselves be shone through their glass panes. Probably to let the over-worker in its insides be able to navigate its corridors with ease, despite their own innate want to go home. Even buildings that had metal scaffolding to fix or change themselves, had their lights on as if to demand attention on themselves too. But not all buildings in the city wanted attention it seemed. Some hid in complete darkness, as if to say to not look at them, for it was not their turn to shine in this peculiar evening. The lampposts, as high and mighty as there were, kept shining a path for me to follow, away from just buildings and into the heart of Liverpool. So, I did.
The alleyways went from empty uncanny eeriness to loud bustling shouts from people. Just as much as the city lights brightened the land, so did its people. They shone themselves, chattering away in restaurants and enjoying the cuisine. Parents holding children’s hands on their way from their exciting adventures to feed themselves alongside others. Or perhaps they just wanted to go home, tired from the city day and enjoy the pumping night life of the city just like myself. Strangers would pass smiles to me and others, as if silently asking each other how beautiful the lights of the city are just by looks.
It was as if this population knew how nice the fresh air felt, despite the winter chill. Yet, a saddened emotion took over me as I thought how much nicer it would have been for the city, one by one, to shut its lights, little by little, to witness the grandest light show of all: stars. How dazzling would it have been to see cosmic waves instead of black skies with tiny dots that I had to squint to make sure it wasn’t a flashing plane. Perhaps the people missed the stars themselves, feeling the same sourness I felt, so they lit their own from the windows of the homes to enjoy on a wall.
I got my coffee and thanked the barista. Then I walked a different path back, to see the same dazzling things, but this time in warmth.
If there is one thing, I definitely recommend for anyone, is that if work becomes a little too boring or tiring or stressful, to leave it as it is. Go for a walk. Who knows, you’ll find quite a few interesting ideas to take from your walk.
Written by Cat Stenhouse (ZILLO Young Reporters)
