MEMORIES ASTAGE
I’m here again in this place that’s all our own. He’s not here but it’s okay. There are enough memories to keep me company. I climb the steps and cross to center stage. I look out into the darkened audience seats. They sit empty, waiting. For me? For others? I sit on the stage and hug my knees to my chest. My thoughts turn to the first time we came here. I remember every detail like it just happened. My eyes follow the path we did all that time ago, lingering as we had in certain places. When that account ends the others fall in, playing gaplessly. Each detail becomes more finely etched in my mind. I relive all the emotions, watch every scene as though it were a movie complete with high definition details and surround sound. I hear footsteps and panic. I’m not supposed to be here so I run to hide behind the light board. Were the lights on? Were they off? I don’t remember. I dim them about halfway and hope that whoever comes in doesn’t remember either. My heart’s pounding so loudly I’m sure it’s audible to anyone that comes in.. The door opens and my breath catches. The figure walks in slowly. It seems familiar but the shadows mas it too completely. It moves toward the stage. I watch as it climbs the steps. It stands in the center of the stage and looks out into the audience as I had just moments ago. It’s him. But what’s he doing here? Well, what was I doing here? He stands there with his hands in his pockets. In the dim lighting, I watch the emotions flow across his face. Does he come here all the time? I find myself mesmerized by him. Does he remember it all the way I do? Does he love it as much as I do? All of this flies through my mind but the answers rest in the emotions on his face. His eyes stop at the light board. Did he see me? Did he hear me? There’s no way he could have because I didn’t move. I barely breathed. He looks nostalgic, as though sad to have finished his mental journey. I glance at the light board. Maybe I can add another chapter. I flip on the spot light and it floods around him. He throws his hands up to shield his eyes. We came here to relive the memories alone. But we’re about to add a new one together.
I’m here again in this place that’s all our own. He’s not here but it’s okay. There are enough memories to keep me company. I climb the steps and cross to center stage. I look out into the darkened audience seats. They sit empty, waiting. For me? For others? I sit on the stage and hug my knees to my chest. My thoughts turn to the first time we came here. I remember every detail like it just happened. My eyes follow the path we did all that time ago, lingering as we had in certain places. When that account ends the others fall in, playing gaplessly. Each detail becomes more finely etched in my mind. I relive all the emotions, watch every scene as though it were a movie complete with high definition details and surround sound. I hear footsteps and panic. I’m not supposed to be here so I run to hide behind the light board. Were the lights on? Were they off? I don’t remember. I dim them about halfway and hope that whoever comes in doesn’t remember either. My heart’s pounding so loudly I’m sure it’s audible to anyone that comes in.. The door opens and my breath catches. The figure walks in slowly. It seems familiar but the shadows mas it too completely. It moves toward the stage. I watch as it climbs the steps. It stands in the center of the stage and looks out into the audience as I had just moments ago. It’s him. But what’s he doing here? Well, what was I doing here? He stands there with his hands in his pockets. In the dim lighting, I watch the emotions flow across his face. Does he come here all the time? I find myself mesmerized by him. Does he remember it all the way I do? Does he love it as much as I do? All of this flies through my mind but the answers rest in the emotions on his face. His eyes stop at the light board. Did he see me? Did he hear me? There’s no way he could have because I didn’t move. I barely breathed. He looks nostalgic, as though sad to have finished his mental journey. I glance at the light board. Maybe I can add another chapter. I flip on the spot light and it floods around him. He throws his hands up to shield his eyes. We came here to relive the memories alone. But we’re about to add a new one together.
