It was the very last summer I had before med school started, and I was absolutely relishing it. I wanted to have as much fun as humanly possible before my I devoted the rest of my life to medicine. So I went to New York City.
The city was spectacular, unlike anything I had ever imagined. It was especially beautiful at night, when all the lights danced against the dark sky. Fewer people walked the streets at nighttime, so it was like I had the city to myself.
I was walking down the sidewalk, gazing at all the lights and taking in the sounds, when I saw a sign across the street. It was a neon arrow pointing down a flight of stairs, leading underground. I was curious, so I took my chances and followed the arrow's instructions.
The club was extraordinary. The flashing lights nearly blinded me and the music ripped through my eardrums. Posters of little-known bands plastered the walls and the air was thick and hazy. I stood on the outskirts of the crowded dance floor, and that was when I saw her. Her curly, shoulder-length, blonde hair was whipping wildly around her head and her limbs flailed in a flurry of mad dancing. She wore red hot pants and a white V-neck t-shirt with black suspenders. On her head she had a beaded and feathered headdress. It would have looked absolutely ridiculous on anyone else, but on her it seemed perfect.
As she looked up, her shocking blue eyes immediately met mine and sent me a wanton glance. I had never met this woman before, but something about her beckoned me closer.
I slithered through the mobs of people, mostly die-hard followers of obscure and underground bands, dancing with their eyes closed so they could feel the music within them. I walked up to her and tried to introduce myself, but it was impossible to hear over the thunder of music. She shook her head at me, telling me not to speak, and then she took my hands in her own. I felt electricity coursing through my veins at her very touch. Together, we danced crazily into the night, our bodies moving as if we were one, never losing contact with each other. She turned so that her back was to me and ground her hips against mine, my hands on her waist as if begging her never to leave. I had never felt this way before. I never believed in love at first sight, but I changed my mind after meeting this unbearably stunning woman.
Too soon, the sun began to filter down through the stairwell, signaling the dawn of another day. My heart ached at the thought her leaving. As the mob slowly petered out, the music faded into whispers and I looked at the woman whose fingers were still entwined with mine. We walked in silence up the stairs and out onto the street. It was early morning, the sun was slowly rising beyond the horizon, and the streets were not crowded. She finally spoke: "I'm Arizona."
"Callie," I replied with a smile. "It's nice to meet you." I still knew nothing about this girl, but from the way she touched me I sensed that this was only the beginning. I had the strange feeling that my forever was holding my hand.