Cool, sunny and bright

Yesterday I stood in a valley, mountains beside me and a river under my feet. The wind tore at my hair and the cold penetrated to my very bones, but I was - if not happy - on the pleasant side of the line until we piled back into our vans and were heading back to the university.

I leaned forward in my seat and listened to Last Dance and looked at the miles of red and white lights that decorated the LA highways last night and realized with a sinking feeling that alone of everyone in the car I was going to an empty apartment and had no one to call to spend time with.

I walked home in the chill grip of the night and brushed away some bitter tears, pulling my hood up so that any chance passerby wouldn't notice and mock me.

When I reached the sanctuary of my apartment I deliberately and slowly emptied my pack and put everything away before I tore off my filthy clothes and got into the shower to wash away the humiliation and the pain.

Curled up on the couch I watched Harry Potter until I grew too jealous of the fullness of his friendships and called a best friend to cheer me. He calmed me, reassured me and talked nonsense with me for an hour and then he left to go to bed, since his day was miserable too.
Even though it was 9 pm I tried to go to bed too, but decided to read in bed instead.

At 10 pm another friend called and he cheered me up even more, so that when we said goodbye at 11 I was able to curl up and sleep.

My dreams were almost happy, and I awoke with some hope left for the world.