Midnight Street

My feet were carrying me down the filthy midnight street. A bitterly cold wind had been chasing me for blocks. It finally overtook me, surrounding me like mother's womb. It blew through the empty schoolyard, the swings rising up as if inhabited by ghosts of children long gone from playgrounds.

I couldn't shake the feeling I was being pursued by more than just the wind. I looked back as I pulled the collar of my coat up over my ears.

I saw myself, happy and fulfilled.

But he wasn't chasing me. He was turning to walk in the other direction.