March 25, 2006 at 07:09:55

One Misty Evening at the Corner of Sturm and Drang

SAVE AS FAVORITE

VIEW FAVORITES

By Joaqu�n Ram�n Herrera (about the author) Page 3 of 3 page(s)

opednews.com Permalink

��"I dont know about that place, my friend," I began. "I just don't think it's my kind of joint. I couldn't even think clear in there. Too much."

��It was a moment before the man spoke. His voice was low, and dusted over my ears as lightly as the moonlight fell to the ground before us.

��"Nobody likes me anywhere else," he said. "That's where I'm meant to be."

��I didn't know what to say. I felt a pang of sorrow to hear him say that. That was like Armand. My eyes filled with water for a moment, and I was glad we were walking in the near-dark. I felt I should try to reach him.

��"Hey, man," I said, gently. "That's crazy. I'm sure it feels that way to you, but there's got to be another way, you know?" But his eyes only skated over me like water striders moving across a pond.

Suddenly, he stopped, in the middle of the path.

��"Maybe it's not too late," he said. I smiled.

��"Right!" I felt very relieved. "There's always time to reinvent yourself. It's so true," I felt good, knowing that this night was turning out in such a way, after all. I was right--or rather, my gut had been right. This was a fated night. But not in the way I thought.

��"No, no, no," he said, terse and tense, once more. "Last call. Maybe it's not too late."

��"Ah, right," I said. "Last call." I felt a cynical smile curl up on my face. "But wait! I don't even know your name."

��His eyes were dark, the moonlight illuminating his brow, but falling off before any could reach his eyes.

��"That's not important," he said, in a rush. "That part's never important."

I stood as still as possible, letting him stumble past me. I watched the darkness he left behind with a crawling feeling all along my spine. The bushes made a sshhhhhhhhh sound for a moment, as they settled back into place.

��And then there was nothing.

1 | 2 | 3

Nezua is an author and illustrator by trade, a rebel at heart, and a fugitive from the iron claw of ennui. You can find more of his writing at http://www.theunapologeticmexican.org , his videos at http://think.mtv.com/profile/Nezua , (more...)

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.