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slamming into the guardrails

my beanie thrown off

lungs heaving.

So much for

defying gravity,

I mumble as I crawl around on my knees

rescuing my hat

from almost getting run over.

I’m about to pull myself up

to a standing position

when a wobbly pair of skates

accompanied by one of those walkers

kids learning to navigate the ice use

appears before me.

Well, well, well,

a familiar voice calls down to me.

My, how the tables have turned.

I scramble to my feet

ignoring my throbbing backside.

This is not

how I saw this going.

You’re here, I blurt out.

I am,

Lyric responds

her tone neutral.

She is wearing jeans

an oversized purple hoodie

that peeks out from under a black coat.

She is radiant

half of her braids thrown up