Neon Lights

The filth can hypnotize even the best of us.

Wisps of auburn blinded Astrid’s eyes, the wind cold as it snaked its way between the clouds. Feet swinging through the night in mock innocence, she stared down at the tiny lights of the city. Thousands of people slept there, worked there, did unspeakable things that they wouldn’t remember come morning.

                The cloud beneath her shifted, and a set of boney legs hung next to hers. She didn’t bother to look over at her companion, as she knew she would only find an agitated gaze.

                “Evening Mildred,” she said, crinkling her nose a little at the name. Befitting of an old woman indeed.

                Mildred nodded her head and followed Astrid’s eyes to the city. “You’ll never get anywhere, you know,” she said, folding her hands in her lap, “staring at that dump. There’s nothing there.”

                Astrid turned her eyes on the woman, one blue, one green, and smiled. “But of course there is! There’s lights, oh Mildred, they’re neon lights! Pink and blue and green! Not these boring old star lights.” She looked back out at the sky around her. “And the people! There’s so many people, why, I could meet a new person every night! I’d never be bored!”

                “Every night,” Mildred said quietly, “but what about when the night ends? You’ve got to start all over again.”

                “That’s the fun Mildred!” Astrid exclaimed, “But of course, you’re too old to understand.” She waved a hand at the old woman and went back to gazing longingly at the city below. Her eyes gleamed with a desire to be walking those grimy streets, in a little black dress and heels, queen of the night. Until she blacked out, of course, with a stranger, like the rest of them.

                Mildred sighed and looked towards the other lights, nature’s lights. Diming slowly, they were fading, until one day they would be no more, and all that would shine were street lamps and neon signs and the burning ends of cigarettes.

                “Look at the stars tonight,” Mildred said, “they’re gorgeous.”

                “Yeah, sure,” Astrid said, standing on the cloud and pulling on her drab grey dress. She smiled. “I’m going down tonight, Mildred. I’m going to find a black dress and red lipstick and turn myself into one of those girls. I’m going to drink those neon drinks and dance until I can’t feel my feet, and go home with someone I’ll never see again!” Her smile was beaming, and Mildred’s face could only droop.

                “But why?” she asked, thoroughly incapable of understanding the logic behind these behaviors. Astrid looked at the older woman, then shrugged a shoulder and folded her arms. As if that was enough, she walked right off the cloud, body plummeting down towards the city, out of sight.

                Mildred sat on the cloud and watched until Astrid disappeared, until she was sure there was no real hope left for the world.