Hidden Costs

The toll booth glows in the dark of night,

beckoning cars to stop, just out of sight.

Each coin I toss, a price to be paid,

small fees of life, like debts that cascade.

The attendant’s smile, tired yet bright,

reminds me of moments lost from my sight.

Each journey carries a weight we don’t see,

a little expense that’s costing me free.

As I drive away, I think of the rest,

what’s hidden beneath all our life’s quest.