(Oops, I thought you were going to go over to the entrance on 19th and Stevens...
)
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I decided to pull out my camera and see how my pictures had turned out. They all looked good - including the snaps I'd gotten just now of the interior of the Boiler Room.
I made it back through the card, and suddenly realized that the pictures I'd taken at the alley behind Chino Latino's was blurry.
That's odd, I thought.
Could've sworn earlier that those pictures were clear. I looked down at my camera - no battery issues. Hmm.
Guess I need to head back to Uptown, then, I thought.
I finished my coffee and ditched the rest of the muffin - I'm on a diet, anyways - and got back to my car. The jaunt was a bit long - and in the wrong direction for me - but I figured I could sneak back into the parking lot, walk over, and get my last few snaps in.
I looked at my car's clock as I prepared to get out at Lund's - 1:47. I was going to be pushing it if I wanted to get back home before 5. I quickly grabbed my camera, putting my jean jacket over the iPad, and headed back over to the alley.
I'd just managed to get the settings right as I turned the corner off of Lagoon when I saw some people standing in the alley. Two girls and an older guy.
Oh great, they'll think I'm some weirdo...
That's when it hit me - the older guy was the one I'd nearly run into earlier today. The one with the dropped fishing lure.
The two girls had apparently decided to smooch him just as he was taking a selfie... in front of the doorway to Chino Latinos!
The shorter of the two girls turned and looked at me.
The long, auburn hair. The face. The
bustline.
Oh.
My.
GOD.
That can't be...
I found myself suddenly running towards them, looking down and fumbling with the camera. When I reached the door, they were gone - running off and around the corner.
"Wait! Monica! HEY!" I caught myself short as I got to the Lake Street side of the alley - and they were nowhere to be found.
Normally, I'm not one to cuss, but this one deserved a "DAMN."
I thought for a moment, shrugged, and decided to just take a picture of the doorway anyways.
The picture was perfect - I framed the doorway nicely, and it was definitely in focus. A thought came to me -
I wonder if they were trying to help that guy get back home.
Tentatively, I reached out and grabbed the doorknob.
"Character is what you are in the dark." - D.L. Moody
"You should never run from the voices in your head. That's how you give them power." - Jin