City lights

The short story city lights was written in the spur of the moment when I was feeling down one day.

The Man pulled his hood over his head as he stepped out of the dark alleyway into the wet and dimly lit street. He stood for a moment to watch the scene. No matter the time of night, the streets of New York were filled with people. On an evening such as this, the man would find a nice perch and enjoy the scenery. The lights of busy New Yorkers driving to and fro, the savoury smell of the local bistro, the feeling of the rain against his skin, and of course the sound. To others the constant hum of the city was an annoyance. But to the Man, it was bliss.

He fumbled with his jacket pocket and reached in. Upon realizing it was empty be began quickly searching the remainder of his pockets in a panic until his hands felt a familiar shape. He breathed a sigh of relief as he took out a cigarette.

Using the building as a rain shield, he lit it then proceeded down the street silently cursing himself after each puff. The addiction had been going on for years and the man knew it was killing him slowly, but the sweet taste of the smoke was too good to give up... Maybe tomorrow.

"But I want to go see Daddy!"
The man looked up to see a small girl and her mother walking away from him . The girl, no more than 7, wore a dirty white dress, and Her mother wore a long flowing black dress. They must have been heading out to an event.


"Lilly, please. Daddy is... Very angry right now and he wants to be alone." the woman cringed as she spoke as if the words she was speaking produced a physical manifestation of pain.

"But I wanna make him happy again!" Lilly protested loudly. The woman didn't respond

"Let me see daddy!" Lilly screamed.

The woman whipped around and grasped Lilly firmly by her shoulders. When she spoke her voice shook with levels anger and frustration that were far to strong for a child "We are going home and that's final! Do you understand?"

Lilly hung her head. Clearly terrified she mumbled "Yes mommy"

It was at this moment that the woman realized she was being watched. She made eye contact with the man for a second. Her face was filled with shock which swiftly changed into embarrassment. her make up was streaming down her face creating abstract streams of red and black. Whether it was the rain that did this or tears, the man couldn't tell.

She stood up and without saying a word, the woman took her daughter's hand and they continued on their way.


The man chuckled, as he remembered his own daughter Emily. She was a strong willed child just like Lilly. There were often times when he couldn't even keep up with her. A woman "Born with the soul of a man" he would always say. But that was years ago.

The man's smile quickly faded. He recalled the last time they spoke. Nearly 3 years ago to the date. They had parted on dispirited terms when he refused to give her marriage his blessing. Her fiancée Kevin was reckless, immature and had been in trouble with the law more than once.

The man prayed that Emily was fine, but he couldn't bring himself to call her. The guilt he felt from all those years ago ate away at every bit of confidence he had. Often nights he would ponder if he truly made the right decision.

The flashing blue and red lights pulled the man out of his thoughts and forced him to view the scene he was approaching. Police stood in the middle of the intersection directing traffic around a collision. Judging by the wreckage,it was a fairly violent crash too. One car was barely recognisable. It's door lay on one side of the road while the rest sat in a crumpled mess on the other. It's rear was pinned down by a freight truck laying on its side. If the driver made it out alive, he would have been the luckiest man in the world.

The man turned away. The sight made him sick and chilled him to the bone.

Within minutes the man arrived at his apartment complex. he walked through the door and pressed the button of the elevator. And selected the 21st floor.

Upon entering his appartment he tossed his keys on the kitchen counter and released a sigh of relief. Home at last.

Immediately he proceeded to the balcony. God, he needed a fix. Pulling out a cigarette, the man went to light it. When something caught his eye. It was the picture pinned to the door; Emily's kindergarten graduation photo. He let out a laugh as he recalled the day.

Emily simply refused to wear a dress, she didn't want to be be like the "other girls" after hours of fighting her mother and I finally caved in and let her take her picture in her lion costume from the prior Halloween. In fact when all the other kids saw her they all wanted to do the same. So photo day was pushed to the following day and all the kids showed up in their favorite costumes.

Emily was always a leader. No matter where she went she left a lasting impression and The man couldn't be prouder of his daughter.

The man looked out at the beautiful city lights in front of him. One of those lights was Emily's. Her entire life personified by a single light.

He glanced down at the cigarette box in his hand and shook his head. Right then and there he decided he wasn't going to live this way anymore and with one swift movement he threw the box off the balcony and into the rain.

The man stood there for a moment watching the City lights before reaching for his phone.

Author's Note

This is rough, I've barely even went over it myself. But feel free to comment on whatever, it'll be greatly appreciated

Reviews

[Levi Levin]

Dean, I think you did a great job! Your a talented writer.