I was already twenty minutes late and circling the same block for the third time when a spot opened up directly in front of the building. Not a block away, not across the street. Right there. Like the city briefly took pity on me. I sat in the car for a second longer than necessary, looked at the spot, then at the meter. Forty-five minutes left on it, which meant whoever was there before me had basically prepaid for my entire errand. I didn’t even have any quarters on me.
It’s a stupid thing to feel grateful for. I know that. But a different version of myself walked into that building — a completely different mood than the one I’d walked out of my apartment with. I smiled at the elevator guy. I let someone cut me in line at the counter without making a face. Some days, things just fall into place, and honestly that’s enough to reset the whole afternoon. I’ll take it.