Talk Story

I’m trying to contort my body to fit in my friend’s beat up Honda Civic, attempt­ing (somewhat unsuccessfully) to find a comfortable position. How am I supposed to sit comfortably with four other people crammed in the back, with the stench of sweat and awkward positions that no body should ever have to conform to?
«where are we even going?” I groan.
«Tantalus, my friend,” Christian replies, a smirk on his face.
«why?” I ask.
«Because, you haven’t seen real paradise.”

We start to drive up Tantalus, a place I’ve neither heard of nor been to. The drive is a scary one, turn after turn on dangerous, uphill roads. I gaze out the window and see trees soaked with rain, birds flying, chirping to their own melody. There is a sense of peace along this hazardous route, how ironic.
I am the first to get out of the car, and last to get back in. The sight I behold in front of me is unlike anything I have ever seen, it takes my breath away, leaving me feeling as though I could stay here forever. I sit down on the hood of the car in awe. I stare at the city before me, a city where poverty, homelessness, and uncertainties abound, a city that I call home. I see none of that up here, all of the struggle and hardship down below seems to be of little consequence here. The buildings never seemed so small, and the grass never seemed so green. Pockets of architectural wonder set on the backdrop of nature, and a vast, expansive ocean beyond. It is as though I am holding the entire city in the palm of my hand.

I take a step back, closing my eyes and opening them again, half expecting to wake up from this dream. So lost am I within myself that I fail to notice my friends also enjoying the view. We take out our snacks, sitting on a ledge facing the city, sating our hunger amid conversation about our child­hood, dreams and aspirations, hopes and heartache. This place is magical, giving us a chance to forget the world for even a short while, allowing everyone to connect with nature and the life all around us, and, most importantly, connect with each other. I often wonder why people refer to Hawaii as para­dise, other than the weather and the people, I never thought it had a whole lot going for it, certainly not enough to be «paradise,” but, as I sit here with my closest friends, laughing and staring at the amazing sight before us, in this moment, I understand.

The sun begins to set on this beautiful occasion, darkness quickly approaches as temperatures begin to drop, but the outer cold is no match for the inner warmth burn­ing inside of me. One by one the buildings begin to light up, it’s a surreal feeling being able to witness such a sight, as though the buildings are candles burning into the night. I am at a loss for words, captivated by it all, the beauty and innocence of this moment, feeling all the stress of daily life melt away before me, paving the way for a sense of peace I have never known. In this moment… I am free.
That night forever changed how I view the city I call home. I know that poverty still exists, and that life is not as grand as we think it should be, but I don’t care. I know that even amid all this chaos, paradise still exists. Now, anytime I feel like life is get­ting me down, I drive up to Tantalus, gazing at the city and taking in everything around me – the citrus smell of the raindrops, the occasional birds humming – it’s my cure, my escape. Tantalus is paradise, and, no matter where I go or what I do, I will always carry it with me.