Troy leaned back against the bench and stared at the sky. A cool mist drifted off the river as the full moon came out from behind a cloud. He closed his eyes and the moist air muffled what little life existed at midnight on a Monday.

"Mind if I sit down yes?"

"Huh?" The old man pointed to the bench. "Um… yeah… no… sorry… I was just leaving." Troy stood up.

"You look like you're deep in thought. Full moon tonight yes?"

"I think so… have a good evening."

Strange little man. Freaks out late at night. Troy wandered through the park. His hands, stuffed deep into his coat pockets, were clenched in balls of tension. The park held no secrets from the bright moonlight. A pair of lovers under a tree, a drug addict shuffling along, several homeless people deep in the thick brush… they were all present and accounted for under the moon's gaze.

I just need to vanish Troy thought as the park closed around him. Go away. I've had it.

"Nice night out yes?" The voice yanked him back from his thoughts. The old man stood gazing at him.

"Um…"

"You look deep in thought."

How could he have gotten ahead of me? He must have come another way.

"You walk alone at night often?" Troy took a good look at the old man as the moon filtered through the trees. His coat was expensive, but threadbare. In fact, that about covered his entire appearance.

"I… um… no… I don't even come out here," Troy mumbled. "I just… uh… I just needed some air."

"I walk out here quite a bit. Do you mind if I join you?" Troy was in no mood for company, but something in him hesitated as his lips formed the word no. He shrugged.

"I suppose so… do you live around here?"

"Oh a long time ago yes. You're married yes?" Troy prickled in irritation at his questions and his strange verbal tick. "I saw the ring back on the bench."

"Yeah… Stacy… my wife." They walked in silence as the trees and the mist folded around them.

"Problems yes?"

"Yeah you could say that. She's a bitch," Troy spit out. "She… she's not… I don't mean that." Their footfalls hardly registered in the fog.

"Do you love her?"

"Yes… of course I do. I would leave if I didn't. I just wish she… I wish she would back off. Lay off the needy shit now and then. I mean… I was out with the guys for a few hours. What is the big deal?" He couldn't fathom why he was telling a complete stranger all this. More importantly, why was this old man listening?

"Women need attention yes?" Troy sighed.

"Too much. She knew who I was when she married me." Troy suddenly realized the moon was no longer visible. The fog swirled around them as water glistened on his coat. His lungs filled with the heavy, wet air. Something felt… wrong. The trees were too thick… dense like a forest.

This is the city park. Where are the cars? The homeless people? He looked around in panic.

"Are you alright young man?" Troy's head spun as the old man reached out for him.

 

"Hey sweetheart." Stacy sat on the edge of the bed with a cup of hot coffee. "You came in late and… I'm so sorry. I just… I was worried. The police found a dead body in the park this morning. They say it's mummified… been dead for years… gross." Troy looked up at her.

"I didn't see anything… Stacy it's my fault yes. I've been a bastard. Come here yes…" He wrapped his arms around her and they held one another tight. The sex was more passionate and intense than it had been in months. They went from the bed to the shower and back to the bed. As she lay there in his arms, she wondered when he had picked up that strange verbal tick.