“Damn,” he said when he first saw the sign. The detour would take him an extra 10 minutes.
On the new route, he saw things he hadn’t noticed: mid-century modern homes, walking paths, a playground. It was like discovering a new world.
He tried doing other things differently: brushing his teeth with his left hand, washing his body before his hair in the shower, brewing coffee with a slow-drip machine. He had to pay attention.
His life had become old. Now it began to feel new again.