September- "If for nothing else than to ask her when the picture of me in her bed, sound asleep was taken..."

Julia! I met Julia in a random way, but that's not my story. It was long after we had our time together and she became my "one who got away". Last year she had moved to Chicago and we hadn't spoken in sometime. Before she left she had a showing of her photos at a small rented out space. I walked through the makeshift gallery and before I read the placard I knew exactly which photos were hers. I felt as if there was still that connection strong enough for me to feel her eye and her aesthetic. I saw her at the other end of the space with her new boyfriend and before I could say hello I decided to bypass an awkward moment and make my exit. That night I had a dream about her. She owned a photo studio and was a well known photographer. There was a fire that spread throughout her photo studio, and in this dream I was the firefighter who put the flames out. Soon after the showing she made her move to Chicago and we lost touch. Out of the blue one day she sent me a random cordial text message asking how I was doing. In response I told her about my dream. She told me it had always been her dream to have a photo studio. I said "Well, if my dreams come true it will burn to the ground. Bittersweet." To this day she has no idea that I was at that showing and ever since, I regret not living through an awkward moment with her and her new boyfriend. If for nothing else than to ask her when the picture of me in her bed, sound asleep was taken that she included in her show.


Keith McCarthy, Chicago, Illinois


Artist- Colie Parks  Orlando, Florida
Colie's Flickr