The red moon hung over the city, a thin, bleeding cut in the black heavens. The summer night raged like a sauna under the ashen sky. I couldn’t breathe. Wheezing with every step, I worked my way down the sidewalk.
Stopping by a lamppost, I leaned against its cool, solid iron. Ahead, the next one was out, and the street was shrouded in shadow. What lies unseen in darkness grows in dreamy thoughts. The shadows moved; a figured stepped into the light.
“Bruce,” I panted. “I’m sorry. I—”
He cut me off. “No problem,” he said quickly.
Gasping, I said, “Didn’t realize . . . how far . . . the air.”
“You gonna be good?”
“Don’t know.”
The warm night surrounded us, and the streetlight hummed above our heads.
“Okay,” I said after a moment.
I came up beside him, and we walked into the darkness.
Tale Told 