Memory Fuel
I woke up feeling groggy
right around 6 AM
on a Thursday
I considered checking the weather
but the New England winter
had been biting hard for a while
so I figured fuck it
I’ll throw a hoodie on
and start my car
I’m sure it will be frozen
it was
I cranked the defrost
saw my breath
it’s gotta be extra chilly today
I said to myself
as I hurried back inside
to rapidly get ready
for the work day
checking the weather after all
I saw it was currently 5 degrees
I couldn’t help but feel
a tinge of melancholy
while I brushed my teeth
I decided that on my way
to the factory
I would think about a happy memory
immediately a summer evening
that we spent together virtually
came to mind
the weather was too hot that day
but we were both busy
until late at night anyway
we were excited
to watch the new horror movie
we streamed it at the same time
midnight
then got on a video chat
to share our thoughts
and see each other’s faces
I held you in my phone
out on the screen porch
it was 2 AM
still warm
I smoked a bit of nicotine
and sipped on a glass of scotch
while we talked about the movie
seeing you I felt like
everything was alright
that memory kept me smiling
on what otherwise would have been
a pretty bleak drive