moon lady

tonight on our twilight neighborhood walk Ulrich and I passed a woman wearing a marshmallowy silver jacket with a rainbow sheen and i was instantly enchanted, wistfulness ballooning in my chest as i remembered that i had once owned such a jacket when i was in middle school. i had picked it out because i wanted to look like an astronaut and so i bargained with my dad next to the cash register at Limited Too until he finally gave in and purchased it for me. the woman we passed tonight had a pixie cut and white-framed glasses and although she didn’t look at me, i was pretty sure i heard her whisper “welcome to the moon” as we entered the small community park behind her.

and then as we meandered the darkening paths i looked up and realized that we were not on the moon but rather in a cobalt galaxy with many suspended, glowing moon lanterns above us, like magic:

on our way out i searched for the moon lady to thank her for placing us under her unexpected spell, but alas: she was nowhere to be found.