A Night in Shanghai

A Night in Shanghai

an experimental 100-word narrative

I saw you, by the pagoda—singing, dancing, drinking. I saw you there, but I didn’t speak. I lowered my head and walked on, back to my room. Alone. I was alone that night—thinking, walking, humming. I saw the music of the erhu float by on my walk; I heard Tai qi being practiced. I smelled the green leaves as I was returning. Alone. I opened the door and lay down in silence, trying to reconcile my tumultuous feelings with my expectations. I waited for my friends to come—they didn’t—finally, I closed my eyes and was awake.