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I walked along the lakefront in solitude for 45 minutes, tripping over large slabs of cracked lake-eroded concrete until I found the shore of Oakwood beach. It was one of those late fall afternoons, when summer comes back. Second summer was like an ex who came by your apartment to pick some useless article of clothing they remembered, then they disappear again long enough for you to forget the bittersweet excitement when you see their face again, knowing it's a fleeting moment. While less emotionally charged, I felt that way about summer too. Soon it would be too cold to even consider venturing here, let alone walk outside for more than ten minutes, or even walk around my apartment without pants on. A discarded sachet of pink lemonade flavored powder rested on the edge of the stainless steel sink basin, the only sign of recent human life.

Upon a boulder I sat with my feet in the cold water, as the sun began to draw my nervous energy away into a happy lull. A monarch butterfly flowed through the water, its antennae only mobile parts given that the water had paralyzed its wings. It appeared melancholy, being carried to and fro through the calm lake water against its will. Some beings were not meant to be in the water, but I have found throughout my life nothing cures my soul more than submerging myself, partially or completely in water. Life begins in fluidity, it is our natural mother. I felt at peace as for many days I had sought such solitude and found it nowhere.

After a few more tranquil breaths I began my trek back to my home, walking along the trail again however this time a man was walking on the other side of the rocks on the side walk. I wondered what might happen if we chose to interact on this encounter. Our instinct was to pretend we didn’t exist.

When I got home I turned the WiFi setting on my Cortex, hoping to make connection with that man.

"Missed Connections" I thought.

Missed connections 9/21/2015

“Hey, I saw you today. I wondered why you didn’t say hi. Did I look boring?”

“Oh, haha, sorry, I was afraid to bother you. In truth I had wanted to go up to you and see what you were doing, where you were going, learn all about who you are and listen to your story”

“Why?”

“You’re beautiful”

“Oh. Thanks lol.”

“Not like you think, I mean yes how you think, but in other ways too.”

“What do you mean?”

“I already know you, Winnie”

“What? No you don’t”

“We’ve known each other for several life times, but I only just found out yesterday when I saw you again. I recognize the way you look out over the water from miles away, the pattern of curls the wind makes in your hair, there’s no doubt in my mind.”