Collective Euphoria

We are flying around mountains in the dark, four of us piled in the backseat and Nataly sitting on my lap, hunched over so her head isn't hitting the ceiling. Finn is making us all laugh with his strange outbursts, Austin just shaking his head quietly as if he's used to dealing with it. Part of me has never felt so alive, crammed in a tiny car with two best friends and three strangers, taking curves around looming mountains way too fast, billions of stars painting the sky above us.

The car pulls to a stop and we tumble out into the night. We are walking to the top of a hill when I start to hear the music, can see lights strung across a wooden pergola, illuminating the swing-dancers as they move their bodies freely and effortlessly. This is where they brought us? I couldn't be happier.

We spend that night dancing, laughing, sitting around a piano and singing, swaying under the stars in the balmy night. Nataly pulls Em and I close in a group hug.

"You guys, this is amazing. I love you."

Austin comes to stand quietly next to me, his arm brushing mine.

"They say that, over there," he's pointing, "is the best view of the city at night."

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