It was the only place I could escape the maelstrom: of the city; of my life; of myself. I went there whenever I needed a moment to sort through my thoughts. From one stream to another. I took them there. The newbies. The oldies. The boys I clung to to get me through those years. I took them to the river at dusk, when the day ended and our love began. There we fell in love (how could you not), sitting on a park bench gazing out over the river, eyes not fixed on anything in particular. Hands trembling against the feel of new skin. Hearts trembling with anticipation of new love. Our minds able to forget, for those first few months, who we really were. Until the river called again.