by Miranda Mckinley

Created on: August 07, 2010

I walk up the steep steps, losing my breath with every step I take. I see through the trees, the sun rays peeking through. I smile, I'm almost there. The last few steps are a victory as I run to my destination. I stop for a moment, breathing in the air before turning and walking toward the place I haven't been at in a year, since I last saw her. I see the familiar cement wall and walk faster toward it, speeding up my steps in anticipation until I see the many memories pass before my eyes. I slow my walk significantly, now not wanting to see all of the memories of her, so fresh in my mind. I reach the familiar, painful wall and raise myself up to sit on it, now looking out toward the city. My eyes wander over the different landscapes, taking in the trees and buildings that are so familiar to me now. Memories flash before my eyes once again and, eyes watering, I latch onto one, smiling slightly as it passes before my minds eye.

We are standing against the wall, hands clasped in front of us as we look out over the city, both smiling as we talk about music tastes. We stand there for a while, talking, until I see red spheres growing off of a plant. I smile slightly as I pick a few off of their leaves, looking over at her. I start throwing them at her, laughing at her shocked expression. She recovers quickly and picks her own, throwing them back and laughing as we both dodge the others throws, continuing on for a while before calling a truce, both out of breath from the activity, both wearing smiles, looking at each other.

I come out of the memory and look over at those same red speheres, picking one and rolling it in my hand for a few moments before throwing it out into the landscape, throwing the memory away as the red sphere leaves my hand. I turn my attention back to my iPod and recognize the song that just started as  Christina Aguilera's Keep on Singing My Song. I softly sing along to the beautiful melody, my eyes misting over so I close them, still singing along, stronger now, as I see images flash before me. Of us sitting, talking in different places. Here, my room, down by the river...I open my eyes slowly as I sing the last note of the song, emotion choking my voice as I try to get the image of us holding hands out of my head. I let one tear fall after the note floats through the air, vibrating off of the trees. I feel a presence beside me and I slowly turn my head to look at the person, hoping it isn't who I think it might be. I let out a silent sign of relief as I look at the old man standing next to me, looking where I was looking moments ago with a solemn expression. I look out again at the city I know so well before slowly standing and walking away, feeling myself heal as I walk further away from the wall, letting the long kept memories go with every determined step.

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