Flow

The park is reaching the down hills of the mountain. An alley leads up, winding. Dark is falling, it is a high moon. A hollow music is coming from a distant place. A couple is walking towards the mountain. Some hundred meters away the lights of several cars are illuminating the farther trees at the end of the alley. A tall man is heading towards the couple. As they pass each other the man rises his head and looks at the woman. The woman shivers for a second as she sees him and slows down imperceptibly. The man stops and turns back. After several steps the woman stops as well. She is not turning. The man in the couple looks at her surprised. The woman turns and looks back. The tall man says "Hey". The woman says nothing and just stays there. Her hand is holding tight a white handkerchief. The couple man looks back and grasps the shoulder of the woman. She liberates herself with an impatient motion and makes a few steps towards the other man. He steps forward. They look each other in the eyes. Shadow faces, sparkling eyes. A tear. The man takes the hand of the woman. The companion pulls out his mobile out and speeddials a number. The music gets more distinct. The woman smiles sadly as she hears the new song. The man embraces her shoulders. They start to dance slowly. The woman is not moving freely but gradually the stiffness disappears. Her body swings lightly. The eyes of both are closed. They wrap around each other. The woman whispers "This is not me". The man nods, holds her tighter and says "I know". A roar of violent tires cuts through the music. The light comes closer and closer. The cars brake meters in front of the couple. The tall man opens his eyes. Several men get out of the cars. The couple man points with a hidden gesture towards the woods. One of the men nods. The song is over. The woman quietly puts something in the hand of her partner. The man looks at her and with a hand gently rises her chin. Her eyes are lowered. Slowly, she looks up. The woman is crying. The man kisses her eyes, the tears disappear. The man puts his lips before hers. Not kissing. The woman feels the warmth. Slowly, she kisses him. Four hands grab the man and throw him on the ground. The woman cries out loud "No". The couple man grabs her hand and forcefully leads her to the nearest car. The woman keeps looking at the tall man as the others drag him towards the woods. The engine ignites. The driver locks the doors and abruptly makes a hundred and eighty degrees turn. Sand and dust outsmoke the gravel pieces that fly under the tires. The window of the woman looks at the same side where the tall man is. A gloomy park lamp throws yellowish light over a small spot between some evergreen bushes. The woman searches with eyes the tall man. The man is on the ground, half lit by the lamp. Few men hold him tight down the grass as another man shoots with a semiautomatic pistol in his head a couple of times. The engine is too loud and the woman does not hear the cracks but she sees the barrel flames. She turns her head towards the man who is sitting next to her. The man lights a cigarette with calm movements of the wrist. All the men get in their cars and roar to the road behind the leading car. The woman says "I loved you". The man looks through the far window and says mildly "You still do". The woman turns her head back and looks towards the yellow lamp. The lit grass area is blurred but the dark shadow in the middle is visible.

A small piece of metal is reflecting sparks under the light. Fallen from the hand of the man is a silver jewel.