" When I used to work my 9 to 5, I used to go to this abandoned house down the street. It was for sale, but nobody knew it. It was a mansion. Every day, or at least four days out the week, I would just stand on the porch of the house for like a year straight. That was around 2001 or 2002. "
- The-Dream

In this passage, an individual recounts their daily ritual during a period when they held a conventional job from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon. This routine included visiting an abandoned house that was on sale but not widely known about. The speaker emphasizes that it was once a grand mansion and describes how they would spend time standing on its porch for several days each week over the course of nearly a year, around the early 2000s.

The deeper meaning behind this anecdote highlights the protagonist's longing for something beyond their ordinary life and the sense of connection to a place that is no longer in use but holds potential. Standing at the porch of an abandoned mansion could symbolize a state of contemplation or reflection about one’s own life path, aspirations, and the possibility of transformation. This act may also be seen as a form of escapism from daily routines and the monotony of workaday existence.

The speaker of this quote is Terius Nash, better known by his stage name The-Dream. He is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and musician who has made significant contributions to R&B and pop music over the past two decades. His words reflect a period before he became widely recognized in the music industry, adding depth to the narrative of his journey from anonymity to fame.