One Last Night

One Last Night 

 

 

Sneaking past the chain-link fence. 

Stopping behind the dirty orange machine, and onto the cliff. 

Waves crashing into jagged, rocky walls of stone, barnacles, and a plethora of sea life. 

Sounding with a loud smack. 

Weathered red and white, rusty windows, 

Empty flower plots and a salty air, 

Leaving the constant, familiar sea foam smell. 

 

The demolition crew set up in two hours and 6 minutes, 

I counted every second. 

I heard from others that the lighthouse watched over the sea 

For years even before the oldest people in my neighborhood were alive. 

I had stayed in it so many nights. 

All I needed was one more. 

 

Creaking open the elderly door, cracking against time. 

An uncared for living area sits awaiting its long awaited guest. 

I was happy to see the grandfather clock had long since stopped tick tocking. 

No need for that reminder of fleeting time. 

Taking the caution tape off my shoe, I fully shut the whining door. 

 

Dirt layered furniture, and a ransacked kitchen, I sneeze from the dust. 

I make my way up the stairs, 

Step by oil starved step. 

Passing by each level, 

All packed with the previous owners memories. 

 

I stop on the first floor I reach before hearing the seagulls and smelling the air. 

In lies a bed with bug ridden nightstands on either side. 

On the bed stands a lone picture, 

A short haired, bright eyed, lanky beauty, 

Standing awkwardly in frame. 

A lighthouse and all of California behind him. 

His eyes colored in with a hazel marker. 

I move on. 

 

Levels with books, empty cardboard boxes, 

Crumpled papers, and questionable posters. 

Passing bits and pieces of the past in just steps. 

Level after level, 

Finally making the last laborious steps up top. 

Stars greet me, stepping into the night. 

The moon is straight above me, 

The man in it ecstatic for its observer, back again for one last look. 

 

I look out from the railing, careful not to scratch myself. 

Buoys scattered around the sea like blinking pillars. 

Birds diving down, flying into the sky with the recent catch.  

Shadows jumping into the air of the moonlit night. 

 

I lay out my blanket, 

Between the foggy glass and rusted railings. 

Rough blanket threatening to fly off the edge, 

A perfect single beam lights where I lay. 

I fall asleep, the face above me ever looking. 

 

 

 

I wake up to a foot nudge, 

A man in a glaring yellow cap looks down from above me, 

Grasping a cup of coffee and broken caution tape. 

He gives me an understanding smile and nod. 

I'm off, knowing the red and white beauty had its time, 

And I was satisfied. 

Author's Note

I really enjoyed writing this one, it's one of the few I'm proud of.