My body is disintegrating into mesh infused with light.
Today I ran to the Wishing Tree. The sparrow had returned, I bowed and approached the tree, the bird hopping next to me.
This evening I walked to Burnham Harbor and sat on a log shaded by three trees. I faced south, a nearby lamppost glowing yellow. I was relaxed as the sun set, watching people pass on the lakefront trail.
A friendly presence approached and a young man stood before me. I smiled and he asked if he could sit with me. I moved to the edge of the log, but he sat on the grass to my left. He asked my name and said his was Kyle, a twenty five year old mill worker from Indiana.
"Iron or flour?" I asked.
He laughed, "I'm going to a secret Harry Potter party tonight."
Kyle pulled a red vajra made of wood from his pack.
"I made this for the party."
"It will protect you and attract women."
"Haha, right!"
He told me of his wanderings through Oregon and Washington, and about his ex-fiance who cheated on him.
As abruptly as he came he departed. He started down the hill toward the lake.
"Have a good time at the secret party tonight, Kyle."
"Thanks, Francis."
He turned to face me. "If you were me, which way would you go?"
I looked left, then right. "Follow the Moon."
He paused, turned left, then stopped. "I like that." He turned to his right, eyes on the moon rising above the city, and started walking.
