by Jackson Murray

Created on: September 06, 2009   Last Updated: September 09, 2009

Moonlight lost its luster as it blended with the cast iron street lamps, dancing with the shadows in the alley ways. Our glasses filled one last time, soaking in the nights light into deep red pools. Sounds flowed from a guitar up the street on the corner, the strummers voice whines into darkness. I feel on the edge of greatness, over the precipice of utter failure. Her eyes blazed with a green intensity, from wine, from lust, from the unknown which is know.

"I feel as if I've known you my whole life."

She said those words, those beautiful and heartbreaking words, earlier that night, as we gazed upon the city, standing at the apex of the new footbridge over the river. A slight breeze blew down the river valley, strong enough to make the bridge sway back and forth, back and forth, like a bladed pendulum inching slower and slower to its victim below. Fog drifted lazily along the banks, casting its warmth to the cool Autumn night.

-

Walking through the bohemian Old Market district downtown, we talked of our childhood, of our lost dreams. Being gone from this city of her birth, I wanted this night to help reacquaint herself with this city I once hated, now loved. Before picking her up I order take out from a small, family owned Indian restaurant, pack a blanket, a bottle of red wine, and two glasses.

On our way to grab our dinner she stopped in front of The Christmas Store, gazing fondly at the miniature villages and bows of holly filling the windows.

"I love Christmas," she said, surprising the hell out of me. "I know I told you I despise religion, hate it actually, how they all seem to suppress women and sexuality, but...I love it; everyone is so happy, if only on the surface."

"Well go in and look around, I have to stop next door anyways."

"What for?" she asks, distrust plain on her face.

"Just go, I'll be five minutes, I promise."

It seems I always said those words to her. Leaving her fearful eyes, I walked two store fronts down before I run across the street after she entered the building. One of the hardest feats to accomplish is to surprise a mistrustful person. Its exhilarating when you pull it off.

Thankfully I make it back to her side of the street before she exits the store, Naan and Chicken Tikka stuffed on top of the blanket in my pack. She comes out on my second pass gazing at the crystal mistletoe in her hands.

"For my sister. It's the first time I have been able to get her a gift in years. I want this Christmas to be different."

I didn't know I

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