I came a long way to see her.

Of course, if I had come solely to see her, it would have been...inconvenient for her, and brought her unwanted attention. For she has need of her secrets. No, ostensibly I traveled for my college reunion, as good a subterfuge as any.

Every year (it has become a reunions tradition, now) there is a showing of the Talking Heads movie "Stop Making Sense", to which people dance to with great joy and abandon. I was looking forward to it, for Talking Heads was ALIVE and the "latest cool thing" when I was at school.

In retrospect, I shouldn't have taken the acid Steve gave me. We were going to hit the strip clubs that night, but he got distracted. By her, of all things, which was understandable-she used to be his girl, and I suspect he's never quite gotten over that. She's moved on, and he has, too-but things linger in odd ways.

When the movie started, I was suddenly seized by a sense of being out of place. I wanted to go in, and dance with the others...but I just couldn't. I felt a strong sense of alienation, and I retreated to my room, trying to cope with my dark feelings.

I woke up at 2 AM, remembering I had brought her a gift-a T-shirt with a slogan I knew she would appreciate. I went looking for her, and found her and Steve chattering away. I handed her the T-shirt, and she thanked me, but I felt like a third wheel, and I silently went back to my room. Something broke in me, and like most things of this nature, the only cure I know of is lots and lots of time.

I suppose it was not all for naught-for I wrote this:

Naked In The Dark

I should have reached out, to touch your face
I should have spoken to fill the empty space
Your face all lit up by the pearl moonlight
My dreams dispersed into the swirling night

And I don't know what to make of the silence
And I don't know what to make of the stillness of night
And I'm hiding all alone, and naked in the dark
And I don't know what to make of the bright, bright light

They all were dancing to the songs we both know
I should have joined, I was frozen in place
I finally found you talking to my best friend
And not much further to my journey's end

And for you, your days will go just the same
But for me I feel the loss of more than I can tell
I'm still hiding all alone, and naked in the dark
And I can't return to where I was before I fell

And it's a long way down...
Kissing my angel good-bye
Before I hit the ground

And I don't know what to make of the silence
And I don't know what to make of the stillness of night
And I'm hiding all alone, and naked in the dark
And I don't know what to make of my fading sight