Umbrella

the cycle of things and maybe something about the butterfly effect.

I left my umbrella at the gym

months ago

Then I just stopped going to the gym

for whatever reason.

But that’s the way it goes for me:

I drop out of stuff, out of the blue

knowing well I will come back

sooner or later

I guess that’s why I don’t mind behaving this way

I’ve learned by self experience

that Rome was not destroyed in one day either

I can always get back on track.

And so, after some weeks

I started exercising once again

and I made my way back to the gym

“I left an umbrella here, like a month ago?”

I oughta be ashamed, but like I told you

I don’t mind anymore.

The helpful trainers told me to ask again next time I came by.

It did not pass another month.

“I’ll be back the day after tomorrow, thanks”

I ran the next day, and as the prophecy foretold, I found myself at the gym the day after.

“Here’s your umbrella,” the trainer said once I’d finished and was ready to leave. I took it and said “gracias”.

It was not my umbrella, and the thought of going back crossed my mind.

And the thought of putting it in a trash can crossed my mind as well.

And the intrusive thought that maybe this was a cursed umbrella made me want to stop carrying it and leave it right there.

And the same thought made me think maybe the way it applies its curse is when the new user gives it away because they’re afraid of it.

After rambling with my mind with these weird ideas, it also reminded me about the cycle of things, and the cycle of life, and the beauty in the used stuff.

I enjoy taking photographs of old, rusty cars.

I now enjoy being the owner of a used-up umbrella that will most likely never help me cover myself from rain.

In the end, I was never an umbrella guy, but I find it fun and natural that it made its way to me, somehow.

Because that’s just life, isn’t it?

- Alfonso