We drink and eat in the open air, laughing in gusts so hard half the candles get blown out. We raise our glasses beneath the twinkling fairy lights. To Geoff! And in this paper-thin pocket of glorious now, I think, we could be anywhere. As if, beyond our passionfruit vines, a rocky cliff might descend all the way down to a sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Thank you, says Geoff with glassy eyes. I just love you all so much. I look around the table of fifteen, at my friends shoulder to shoulder, the candle wax dripping and cigarette ash burning holes in the tablecloth. Red wine lips grinning,
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