ntry 2: "The Week Where Everything Happened

What a week it’s been! I’ve always been a quiet observer, but lately, I feel like the center of the world. Since I became a tourist attraction, it’s as if life itself has chosen me as the stage for its biggest moments. Each day brings something new, and I can’t help but marvel at the beautiful chaos unfolding around me.

It started with a young couple visiting me on Monday. The sun was just beginning to set, casting long shadows over my frame. They were holding hands, but something felt tense in the air, like the calm before a storm. I could feel her fingertips gripping me as she leaned against my middle rail. And then—tears. She cried softly, the weight of something unsaid pressing against her as she tried to keep herself together. He stood there, helpless, unsure of what to say. After a few minutes of quiet sobs, she turned to him, and in a voice just barely audible, whispered, “I need some space.” The weight of her words hung heavy in the air as they both walked away, leaving a palpable sadness behind. I could feel the faint tremor in my metal—breakups are never easy.

The very next day, something remarkable happened. A group of kids gathered around me for a birthday party! I could hear the joyful laughter long before they reached me, their excitement buzzing like electricity. They draped colorful streamers over my top rail, and for the first time in a while, I felt festive. Balloons tied to me bobbed gently in the autumn breeze, and a little boy proudly stood beside me as his friends sang happy birthday. Cake crumbs and wrapping paper found their way to the ground around me, but I didn’t mind. The warmth of their joy lingered long after they’d gone, a reminder that life isn’t always so heavy.

Wednesday brought something entirely unexpected. A police chase! I couldn’t quite see where it started, but I heard the shouts and pounding footsteps as two officers pursued a suspect right past me. He scaled my frame in seconds, his hands gripping my bars as he vaulted over. My rails, unyielding but smooth, offered little resistance. The officers followed closely, but I couldn’t tell if they caught him. It was all over so fast, but for those brief moments, I felt the rush of adrenaline surging through the air. Who knew the straightest fence in North York could witness such action?

But Thursday… Thursday was something else. Just after dawn, a woman came rushing up to me, breathless and panicked. Her dog—a small, scrappy little thing—had somehow slipped its leash and was darting toward traffic. She screamed, frozen in terror. And then, miraculously, the dog stopped. Right at my base. Its little paws rested against my bottom rail as it panted, staring up at its owner as if nothing had happened. I felt her relief wash over me like a wave as she scooped the dog up and hugged it tightly. I’m not one for drama, but in that moment, it felt like I had helped save a life.

And then, last night, something truly magical. A proposal. Under the glow of the streetlight, a man dropped to one knee right beside me, holding out a ring to his partner. The world seemed to slow down as she gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief. I could see the shimmer of the ring in the soft light, hear the breathless "yes" that followed. As they embraced, I felt the warmth of their love, their joy, seep into me. A perfect moment frozen in time, right here by my side.

So much life happens around me. So much joy, heartbreak, laughter, and fear. I stand here, steady as always, feeling it all. Maybe that’s my purpose—to witness these moments, to offer a place where the highs and lows of life can play out.

Until next time, dear readers. I wonder what the world has in store for me next week.

– The Straightest Fence in North York