Ode to the Past !!

It was a cold dark night after Christmas as I hurried home from the theatre. The street was dimly lit and the cold wind whistled in the alleys. Not many people were out that night, everyone was at home spending time with their family.
As I walked past a beautifully lit house I spotted an old friend inside. She was almost lost in the crowd of people who were partying. Many a summer ago we had been inseparable friends. We had both begun our career as makeup assistants in a small theatre in a long forgotten city. My boss, a tall burly fellow with a loud voice and a charming smile had introduced me to her on my first day at work. Since then we had laughed, cried and shared so many emotions with each other. But then life pulled us apart. She built her own world and from sharing everything with each other here we were today, sharing nothing. She was happy in her new world and I was standing alone in the cold dark street, a mere spectator to her happiness.

I turned away, angry and miserable. I had no interest in this gaiety and no time to waste. I had to get home before it was too late. I needed my medicines on time. With the pharmacies closed for the holiday I could not get any help if I had one more attack. Just as I was about to walk away I felt a small congestion in my chest. I was about to have another attack. As fear gripped me I lost my balance and fell down on the sidewalk. My backpack lay next to me and it's contents spilled out.
As I looked around frantically I saw a face at the window of the house I had been staring at, it was her, she had finally seen me. I would be safe now. But no, she didn't appear to recognize me. There was just a look of pity in her eyes. No sign of recognition. This was not true. It must be a dream. I shut my eyes and tried to close my arms around myself. Just then my hand touched a small bottle, it was my medicine and lo behold I still had a single tablet. With a lot of care I swallowed the tablet and lay still for a little while. The pain subsided and I felt stronger. After another five minutes I managed to to sit up and pack my bag carefully. As I looked up she was still standing there looking at me but looking at me as a stranger looks upon another stranger. As I slowly stood up I saw her draw the curtains of the window and walk away. She had seen a stranger on the road recover from an attack. With a thousand thoughts in my mind I walked away, never looking back and never wanting to look back again.