Michael had just returned from a weekend getaway. He was coming back to his newly adopted home, colloquially known as the City of Angels. A native New Yorker, Michael left behind the familiar gritty scenes of his childhood anguish and loss for something sunnier-spiritually and literally.
Even after living in Los Angeles for six months, Michael still found himself mesmerized by all the sunlight and palm trees and curvy roads-almost to an awe degree. While he had experienced life in the suburbs and the city of New York, the comfortable juxtaposition of abundant natural beauty and simultaneous urbanity of Los Angeles suited him.
Returning home from his trip, the first person Michael wanted to see was Phillip, a native Angeleno-who embodied the gateway spirit of the beautiful dichotomy of the city. Having been raised in the West Coast but educated in the East Coast, Phillip freely displayed his finely cultivated intellect, which was wholly supplemented by his warm spirit. Recently, Michael and Phillip had fallen in love, although neither had admitted it to the other.
All Michael knew was that he couldn’t wait to get home and see Phillip, and all Phillip knew was that he couldn’t wait to see Michael-a man who had newly awakened his heart, desire and hope that true love might be possible-lurking just underneath the crowded chaos of jaded spirits, failed dreams and plastic facial surfaces. As soon as they embraced, the electricity of their connection fused them, and they both wanted to leave the crowded bar for somewhere more serene.
Sensing his pure longing for a peaceful escape, Michael asked Phillip if they could go for a drive somewhere-anywhere. Speeding off in Phillip’s coupe, they headed for the hills of Hollywood. Knowing every nook and cranny of the urban landscape (yet still discovering new roads every single day), Phillip accidentally drove them to the farthest peak possible to reach the iconic Hollywood sign.
Once they arrived at the top of hill, Michael and Phillip got out of the car and stared up at the open sky-dumbstruck at the fateful discovery of being within spitting distance of the mythical, enormous Hollywood Sign. Michael in particular felt acutely lucky-being able to start fresh in the city of his dreams, capriciously finding himself so close to the giant monolithic symbol, which encapsulated so many hopes and desires (all materialized in “one big, bold sign” he thought). He hadn’t that felt that complete sense of happiness in quite some time.
Phillip was happy just to be with Michael-a man whom he could frivolously talk to for hours about 90s satirical films, post modern indie music, contemporary art and the banality and hypocrisy of politics in the 21st century. And all at once, Phillip could be crushed by one stare from Michael, who always looked at him with direct, confident intensity; which burned through so many layers of hurt and disappointment faultily constructed by so many men before him. Michael knew that he loved Phillip, but he had no idea how profoundly Phillip loved him back.
In gratitude, Phillip looked up at the open, clear night sky to thank the majestic stars that someone so soulfully kindred had found him in the vast, harsh confusion of people who populated Los Angeles. Almost without warning, as the two were admiring the natural, paradoxical beauty of the night sky and Hollywood sign-a bright, fluorescent light shot across the sky for just an instant.
Looking over at Michael with a knowing smile, Phillip asked him if he had ever seen a shooting star in 30 years of living in New York City. Michael knew that he hadn’t, and all at once the grand meaning of the symbol hit him like a precious stone. Overwhelmed, Michael immediately grabbed Phillip’s hand and pulled him closer to hold him against his warm chest.
All Phillip could feel was the beating of Michael’s rhythmic heart, and right then and there-under the Hollywood sign-Phillip fell just a little deeper in love. Seemingly on top of the world-under a shooting star-illuminating the city of Los Angeles for just one fleeting moment, Phillip believed in true love and miracles and soul mates.
The moment was crystallized into a memory of unexpected utopia amidst the entropy of sadness that had haunted these two individuals for so many years prior. Even though all the signs were there in the most tangible of ways, exactly one year after the passing of the shooting star, Phillip and Michael would never speak again.
