Late Night Walk @ MindSay

There's always at least one a year. That one day that I cherish as an example of heavenly miracles on Earth. A gift from above that changes all the world in just a short while. The first snow of the season. It awakens such a feeling in me, and this most recent falling was no different. It had been a brief but intense blizzard in the afternoon that had weakened in strength but not endurance by nightfall. It was late, and I had a large house all to myself for most of the evening. Many would have contemplated going to bed. I felt an unquenchable urge to go for a walk. So I bundled myself in my coat and tromped out into the new world.

The darkness of the late evening sky was cloaked in a haze of white and the view before was nothing short of shaded mysterious winter wonderland. Save for a few scatterings of Christmas lights the houses around me were dark and lifeless; the streets barren of all automobiles and after-hours amblers. I could have stepped off the front porch at just about any other night and found similar circumstances, but the magic of the fallen snow changes everything. Blanketed in nature's cold grasp, the noises become absorbed by a palpable silence that rises over everything. Stillness reigns and for one short period time stands still, and I am the only person left alive in the world. I step out onto the walkway now covered by a perfectly smooth layer of frozen dust and feel an almost slight sense of guilt at leaving gross misshapen prints behind me in the work of art Jack Frost has painted. The snowflakes have dwindled to an infinitesimal size unable to be seen by my own eye, but I can still feel them genlty fall as their chilled soft touch brushes past my face as I move.

The trees on either side of the street stretch up and into the night and all at once I am in a dark but open tunnel. With nothing around to disturb my almost trance-like movement I stroll down the very center of the street, with all before me a sight that is meant solely for me. The world is a black and white photo with but a few instances of color that instantly attract my gaze: lights on the otherwise barren trees. The cars that have remained stationary for most of the day have transformed into igloos, rounded mounds of ice and snow. As devoid of illumination as the scene should be, every detail is clear and crisp to my vision, as ever speck of snow reflects every particle of light a hundredfold and shadows dance across the snowscape.

As I wander through the physical realm, so to does my mind through the spiritual. At times a person can feel all alone in the world. At the moment it almost certainly seems to be really true. But as my awareness leaves the here and now I find it drawn to times gone by. I see faces of people I hold dear to my heart. Friends, family, each one wrapped up in a field of memories that lie dormant in my mind's eye and are brought to the forefront without requests or permission and are as vivid as if I was living them in that exact moment. As I roam the deserted streets, the light snow still surrounds me in an aura of crystal. I barely notice it. Without rhyme or reason I find myself standing in the playground of my old elementary school. In light of eternity it was only a moment's breath ago. To me it seems like a whole other life. This yard which for so long was my world has indeed changed. Gone are the tall steel towers of the jungle gym that so many adventures played themselves out on. In their place are the bright unintimidating plastic that molds into shapes that make little to no sense at first or even second glance. I remember the countless children that roamed this area and I slowly realize that these memories now belong only to me, as everyone who lived with me in that time has gone on to other lives and other world's. I pause and remember their names, their faces, and quietly ponder if they ever think of me. I pray that God finds them and blesses them well.

I begin the short trudge home, cold and weariness setting in. I notice a few small prints in the snow that are not mine. No, judging by the spacing and shape I would guess they belong to a creature of the felis domesticus variety. I approach my mother's house, the Christmas tree glimmering in the window. A shake of my feet and a firm brush of my coat to knock away the collection of crystals I've amassed and I step into the indoors, warmed by the now dying fire in the hearth. I look in the mirror; my wavy and disheveled reddish hair has a slight silver streak in it. I grin and shake myself bake and forth, mimicking my dog Jesse, who is lying close to the fire. Aware of my presence she gives her tail a wag but does not bother to get up. I give her a pat on the head and bid her goodnight, then slowly climb the stairs to bed. I crawl underneath the frigid covers and grow more comfortable as my body's warmth spreads through the cocoon of covers. The light goes out and in a few short minutes so do I.

The moon pricked through the blue night like a giantess' fingernail through the skin of some soft, strange fruit. At the pit of this fruit, a city called Constance slept as completely as any city could. Roseline did not sleep, but observed these things with teary eyes. Perfect moonlight highlighted the grand city's graceful archetecture. The silent scene stopped Roseline where she stood. Minutes passed as her eyes thirstily drank in everything. At last, she willed herself to lift her satchel and walk down the cobbled street. Her steps echoed through Constance's deserted passages.

Roseline stopped again at the imposing city gates. The gates were never closed in Constance, but Roseline could not walk through them casually. Lonelyness, premature regret, and homesickness overwhelmed her as she cosidered what she was about to do. Surely, to leave Constance was never to return. Her choice had been firmly made. Gathering all the resolve in her, Roseline stepped forward. Once she crossed the nonexistant barier, a fresh night breeze and relief swept over her. Her journey had begun...

(Author's note: sorry about any grammer or spelling mistakes. Please point them out so I can fix them. All other criticisms or complements are highly appreciated!)

I went on a quick walk with Devin last night. I'm mad at him. Again. He is quite possibly the shittiest excuse for a close friend. For God's fucking sake, he's so unreliable that its predictable. And it hurts. I've known him for nine years and he's like a brother, but i hate having to wait an extra two hours for him to "do something". I mean, it's not like i care that he smokes or any of that shit, but like idk. I don't even care anymore.I just really don't care.

It's not even worth the effort.