Night driving

People always need someone. Sometimes a friend, sometimes a loved one, and sometimes just someone to listen to them. But there are some evenings when you don't want to talk to anyone. Not because you're angry or hurt, but simply because you want some time alone.

At times like these, I just grab the key and leave the house. Most of the time, I don't know where I'm going when I get in the car. That's actually my favorite part of evening drives. You've been busy all day, gotten things done, talked to people. This time, there's nowhere to rush to. You turn the ignition, sit for a bit, find something to play, and then you hit the road.

I think one of the good things about driving a car is having your own space. When you close the door, life outside continues, but you can be a little detached. You don't have to talk. You don't have to explain why you're quiet. You can listen to the same song three times if you want, or you can turn the music off completely.

When night falls, even the roads you take every day feel different. A street you grumbled about during the daytime traffic, you pass through it without a care in the world a few hours later. A few shops still open, people waiting for the last bus, another car pulling up beside you at the traffic lights… You notice things you wouldn't normally pay attention to.

What I enjoy is driving leisurely with the air conditioning on, the window slightly ajar. Let some fresh air in, listen to my favorite song. I might turn onto an unfamiliar road, and if I feel like it later, I might take another turn. Sometimes, grabbing a coffee from a nearby shop and continuing on is also part of it. You don't need a grand plan. That's the beauty of it, being unplanned.

Of course, you can't just leave your head at home and go out. Things that bother you come with you throughout the day. Something you didn't say, something you thought about too much, tasks you need to do tomorrow… You think about them for a while. Then, before you know it, you're humming along to a song. You haven't addressed that issue that was swirling around in your head for a while. Everything isn't solved. When you get home, tomorrow's tasks are still waiting for you. But I feel a little more at ease after that break. Sometimes I'm surprised that what I need is so simple.

And these drives have their own ending. You don't set a timer, you don't calculate how many kilometers you'll go. At some point you say, "Okay, I'll turn around now." You turn around and park the car. If a nice song is playing, sometimes you just wait for it to finish. That's why evening drives are one of my favorite things. I don't always use the car to go somewhere. Sometimes, just driving around a bit, clearing my head, and returning to the same place is enough.

Then I go upstairs. And if you ask, "Where did you go?", the answer doesn't change much:

"Nothing, I just went for a walk."