Under the luxurious light of a full moon, 
He unscrewed the cork of a pristine chianti wine.  
His face was an oxymoron, 
The same bright blonde hair he had as a boy,
Now with a face where you could feel the stories his wrinkles told.  

He had come to understand,
It’s okay to love two things, 
Even though they might be contradictory.  

He heard a woman’s laugh in the distance.
It was eerily similar to one he was fond of many years ago.  
Her name had slipped his memory,
But his feelings appeared without hesitation.

Like driving down the old roads leading to your childhood home,
Once triggered, the mind knows exactly how to retrace the heart's footsteps.  

He swirled the burgundy wine around his glass,
The corners of his mouth jerked into a small smile.  
He felt lucky to know such a soul that brought him so many fond memories after so many years.
He knew he would always remember that transitory girl who loved life more than she loved herself.  

Hours passed as his mind mulled over their memories together.
Just as he was about to head inside for the night, 
He saw the spark of the sunrise appear over the horizon. 
He laughed.

—e.l. jayne