It was the first time he walked the city streets in over a decade. The streets, though crowded with cars and new shops, still seemed familiar to him. He stopped before the crosswalk and stood, watching the red hand blink. The cars waiting for the light to turn green watched him. Some thought, “go, you idiot,” while others thought, “did this guy just crawled out of a cave? Doesn’t he know he can cross?”
The truth was, after over a decade in a monastery, he had become used to the quiet. It was in silence he was able to meditate and pondered upon his accomplishments. It was in silence he was cured of his anxiety. However, the minute he stepped into the city, his ears began ringing. “Make it stop!” He prayed but the noise seemed to had grown louder.
As he stood in that corner, panting as he felt the ground shook beneath his feet. He lowered his head, squeezed his eyes shut, and hands over his ears, “Take me back, I’m not ready.”
(~175 words)
I am participating in Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writer, where we write a piece between 100 and 150 words (more or less 25 words) in length inspired by the photo prompt above. 
Perfect! When I came back after trekking in the Himalayas after ten days, the hustle and bustle of the cities were too much for me. Imagine being inside a monastery for years and coming out! Good one, Yinglan.
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Thank you. I was the same way when I visited my hometown in China this year. After living in a town with 70,000 people for so long, I was not used to the noise and people of my 3 million population hometown. 😀
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I see the connection with your personal experience. This is a very well written piece.
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Thank you. 🙂
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Awww poor guy! Anxiety is terrible. I felt his anxiety for him. Great story!
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I know, anxiety is indeed a terrible thing to suffer from. Thank you for reading. 🙂
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I like your story, you have written it very nicely expressing a lot of emotion.
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Thank you. 🙂
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If he stays away much longer, he never will be.
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The city can be overwhelming, even to those who are used to it.
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I agree. I feel that way when I go to the city sometimes.
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This story hit me in the feels. I know what it’s like to have anxiety and be scared of the public. It’s not an easy life.
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I agree. It’s not an easy life.
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