6 p.m.!

Henry turned off his desktop and dashed past his colleagues, out of the office door, picking up his bag on the way. He ran down the stairs, slipping a few. A minute later he was out of the building, onto the busy road.

He didn’t stop, not even for a second. Her last bus will leave in 15 minutes. He had to get to the bus stop before that. After all, the only reason he had moved to this city was to see her, be close to her.

Louisa, his college sweetheart, had gotten herself a job in her city after graduating. The separation gnawed at their hearts bit by bit. When it grew unbearable, Henry moved to her city. He got a job there sooner than he expected.

Louisa was happier than him, at least he was close to her now. She had prayed for this to happen for a long time. Finally, they could see each other every day!

Henry had to work until six in the evening. Louisa got off an hour earlier. Every day, she waited for one hour for him to come. Most days he couldn’t make it before the bus leaves. She knew it was hard for him to run all this way. But she still hoped. The heart wants what it wants.

That’s why he ran. Through the busy crowd and the long line of street vendors. Through the endless rush of a city that was chasing for something more each day.

The first few days were the hardest, as the place was new to him. Now, he knew the road like the back of his hand. His feet moved with a mind of their own. As if they knew she was waiting.

On the way, someone jumped in front of Henry, and he halted. A shirtless old man, with half-torn pants, stood in front of him. The man was begging for some money.

It frustrated Henry, he thought, “Great! Now I’m going to miss the bus, for sure.”

He tried to move past the man, but he couldn’t. Something, in the man’s eyes, stopped him. That old man was the remains of a fast-growing city, which had long ago turned its back towards the ones who couldn’t keep up.

Henry took out his wallet and gave the man some money. He knew he was already late. Even so, he ran towards her. He could see the bus stop from afar.

The distance diminished. He was closing down the last steps when he saw her bus leaving the stop.

A moment of despair.

His ankles hurt, and his lungs were out of breath. Even though his tired eyes still looked at the bus with fading hope. At the last possible moment, a head popped out.

A small ponytail that ended below her shoulders and a glass that was a bit too big for her tiny face. His Louisa. A sight that Henry always longed for.

She looked at him with a sad smile. With that glimpse, the bus vanished into the endless evening, leaving Henry with a smile.

A smile that was worth all this.

He turned and walked towards his hostel. Maybe, tomorrow, he could reach her early.

The endless hope. The hope that kept everyone running.