THEN

I remember the rain. I hate rain.

I remember my friend. I remember her lover. I remember being jealous.

I remember running. I remember stairs. I remember falling.

And then…

I don’t remember. Maybe I just don’t want to.

They tell me I slipped. I know better, I was pulled. Which sounds like a strange thing in itself, not as
strange as the story I told them afterwards. They actually tested me for brain damage after the first
time I told it to someone.

To be honest, I remember everything. I remember falling, but I wasn’t falling on the stairs. There was
a void. An abyss. I fell straight into it as if I was pulled.

Inside, it felt like flying more than falling. A small smile appeared on my face; it still does when I think
about it. Then suddenly I felt a small tug, I flew towards it. I say towards but in the void, it was
impossible to tell.

And just like that I was back. At least I thought was. I was miles from where I had been standing, in
the rain, with my friend, and her lover over some stairs. It wasn’t raining here. It was dry, practically
sunny. I knew I was somewhere else, not just because of the psychedelic experience that I had or
even the space time distortion, but because the most beautiful girl that I had ever seen was standing
3 feet from me and smiling right at me.

Things like this didn’t just happen to me. I did a double take behind me, which only made her smile
wider. She was one of those people who made everything better just by smiling. Her smile felt like
the sun just shone on me, like that feeling you get when you are having a bad day and your favourite
person just offers you free food. Sorry, I’m not a romantic, that’s the best thing that came to my
head.

She started walking towards me. My heart did a summersault inside my chest. I felt sweat trickling
down the back of my neck. I suddenly felt underdressed. I feel like anyone meeting a girl like this
should be in a tuxedo with a bouquet of fresh lilies in their hands.

“Hi”, she said.

Her voice felt like music. Like something that the only the Gods listen to. I started to reply and
contemplated the appropriate response. I felt something stupid coming off my tongue and I pushed
it back inside.

“Hi...llo”

I am the worst. She gives a small laugh.

“I’m sorry. I started saying hi but I tried switching to hello in the middle.”, I said.

For some reason I thought this would help. She gave another quick laugh. It made all my organs start
performing amazing feats of gymnastics within my body. I thought I might just pass out with the
shear power of this girl’s beauty.

“It’s alright,” she said “I forgot how awkward you used to be”
“I’m sorry...Do we know each other?” I asked

“Not yet. But soon. Remember, 37th and 6th Avenue at Cicero. There’s an old book store there. 4 May
9:36 AM, that’s when you need to be there. Can you do that for me?” she asked

I didn’t understand a word she said but I want to say something cheezy like ‘I would do anything for
you’. But I act like a sane person and say the most appropriate thing anyone could say in a situation
like this.

“Wh…huh?” I mumbled. I must be making quite an impression on her, as the stupidest person on
this planet.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll manage.” She says

She then does the last thing I expected she leans in for a kiss. Just a small peck on the cheek. I feel
like the happiest man alive before the sane part of my brain asks what the hell is happening. She
then pushes me, square in the chest. I fall backward.

“And remember, I am always right.” I hear her say. But I don’t see her, because I’m already falling
backward back into the void.

I land on my face on the last step, and then my ass on the landing.

NOW

I’m standing outside this used book store. It is 4 th May. I just happen to really need a book today and
it has nothing to do with what my friends say must have been a dream. Must have been.

I look at my watch, its 9:30. Now or never, I tell myself. I step inside the book store, its one of those
old places with tons of book in really old wooden shelves. I look around. I’m not even sure what I’m
supposed to be looking for. Then I hear it. Music.

I look behind me and there she is. The most beautiful woman on the planet arguing with the store
owner, about the accuracy of European society as stated in Jane Eyre. I can tell she wants to get out
of the argument and just read the book in quiet. So, I signal the owner over, catching a glimpse of
her as she mouths ‘thank you’. I busy the owner and then send him away looking for a book that I’ve
hidden in my jacket.

As soon as the owner disappears in the shelves, I walk to her, she looks up from her book and
awards me with the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.

“Thanks for helping me out there,” she says “What did you say to him anyway?”

I give a smile.

“Well, I told him something the smartest person I’ve ever met once told me.” I said.

“And what’s that?” she looked at me quizzically

“That, you’re always right.” I say