[ CW ] `` A flash of light , a puff of smoke , and she was gone . ''

The air that night was cold and crisp, a light fog was rolling in over the hills. I, having just spent all of my weekly wages at the bar, stumbled out the door and onto the street. It was dead quiet. There was not a single soul in sight, but in the drunken state I was in, this did not faze me. 
 After half an hour of wandering around my small town I noticed a figure off in the distance. As I moved closer the faint sound of music graced my ears. It had that 1940 ’ s jazz feel, like something straight out of an old war movie. It only got louder as I approached the strange figure. 
 Soon it was no longer just a shape off in the distance but a silhouette of a woman. Now typically if I saw someone on the street I would just keep on walking, but since I am an obnoxiously social drunk I suddenly found myself calling out to her. 
 
 “ Hey Miss! ” The jazz seemed to have gotten louder. 
 
 “ Ma ’ am, ” I shouted, this time a little louder. 
 
 I finally caught my self screaming, “ Hey Lady! Hey! You Okay! ” 
 
 By this point I was within arms reach her. She had on a nice red dress, cut just above the knee. Her blonde hair seemed to have the most perfect curls that came down to meet her neck right above the shoulders. My god she was beautiful. Reaching my hand out to tap her on the shoulder, I wondered what gorgeous face could fit such a beauty. 
 
 Just as I had placed my finger lightly on her shoulder, the music boomed, the world spun. 
 I found myself no longer in the quiet street, but rather in a crowded smoke filled dance hall. The lady in red had her arms wrapped around me as we moved through out the room. Everywhere we turned there were people dancing, laughing, smoking, and having a grand time. I laughed, this has to be a dream I thought as the lady in red twirled around in front of me. We danced around the floor for hours, laughing and smiling. That is until she suddenly grabbed me by the wrist and swiftly led me outside. 
 
 Pulling a cigarette out of a small metal case, she kissed me on the cheek. 
 A flash of light, a puff of smoke, and she was gone. 
 
 I awoke the next morning, still dressed from the night before. It was only a drunken dream I thought, as I stood up and walked towards the bathroom. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I couldn ’ t make sense of what I saw, the remains of dark red lipstick smudged across my right cheek. 

