The streetlight flickered. The sudden change of intensity caught his attention. Normally bathed in the orange hue that would accompany them back from the dining hall, they were temporarily encompassed by darkness. Perhaps it was time to call the maintenance man to get this fixed – this was the second day this had happened. As they continued their post-dinner walk, the artificial glow of fluorescent lights from the high-rise dormitory up ahead provided enough lighting, and for the moment, the boy was content with the faint lighting.

He drew in a sharp breath and then blew out. December was a good month to pretend to be a smoker, the boy thought. Although he never had smoked cigarettes, he often fantasized about lighting up one of the cancer sticks – could a single one really be that addictive? The girl, lost in her own thoughts, heard the deep breaths of the boy.

“Anything wrong?” The girl was dressed warmly – perhaps a bit too warmly, the boy thought – for a December night. After all, the nights in the South weren’t horribly frigid – perhaps she was just looking nice for him. As much as she cared for him, would she understand what he was going through?

The boy mumbled back an unintelligible answer.

The girl wasn’t satisfied.

“What’s on your mind?”

How could he explain the burden of responsibilities that weighed on his soul when all she understood were exams and classes? The world was once his oyster – he attended the best prep schools and attended a respectable four year college. Surrounded by idealism, his fervor for improving the lives of the people in his community drove him to the humanities. However, the mirage of idealism dried up before his eyes after he left college. It had been nearly eight months since he had gotten a job – it wasn’t a great job, but it was something that could occupy his days.

His grand visions were diluted down to piddling worries – when could he afford a new car? When could he start paying off a house? His feelings of adequacy had always been tied to his potential, but what was he to do now that the potential was gone? The people around him needed his paychecks, and he would continue to oblige them. There was nothing he could do; he would simply have to wait this situation out. No need to burden the girl with such trifling concerns.

He smiled at the girl. “Nothing, really.”

The girl knew better, but she accepted his return to reality and snuggled up next to him. Together they walked up the hill, towards the faint lights of the high rise dormitory up ahead. Behind them, the light flickered back on, and the uneven brick path was once again showered with the orange aura of the streetlight for the next couple.