sept 11

i was in a city that felt like st john's but seemed much bigger - though i think it was sydney, or at least halifax. i was with some people, getting ready for a night on the town.

i knew of a party that i was really looking forward to attending. it was melissa's going away party. this was going to be the last time i'd ever see her.
on the way to the party, i met up with her on the road. she had a bag of cheap jewelery and we laughed about it for a while, as we walked down taylor street.
she said she had something to show me before she left. her tone was flat, it was like she was using up the very last of her anger and disappointment and resentment, on the way to forgiveness. it was a tired sort of anger. i started to realize where we were headed - first brook, this place me and melissa used to hang out when we were younger. it made me feel remorseful and nostalgic. so nostalgic it was almost tangible.

i was looking through a book like a program, i found it in the bag with the cheap jewelery. it was filled with pictures, and as i turned the pages, the pictures became recognizable. i started to cry, and just then i looked up and we were there. i saw those same pictures in black and white - pictures of me and melissa in all of the memorable moments we've shared together - huge, billboard sized photos, ranged along the valley and lit with floodlights.