I've never believed in love at first sight... or that one person could influence my life so deeply. I shouldn't say influence, she did more than that. She discovered sides of me that where unknown even to myself and unlocked some emotions I didn't think I was able to handle. Looking at her big eyes on this bright billboard in Times Square I, one more time, think that breaking up was the right choice for both of us.
"Do you know them?"
The billboard changes the add and I look at Joseph who is looking at me in a funny way.
"Sort of" He stars walking again without pointing out my sudden silence. For a moment I was alone in that busy spot, lost in my past.
"The Times is expecting us to give them a total of six photos for the Syria reportage. I'll leave the explanations to the images to you but let me do the talk when they are gonna start negotiate about the paycheck because, believe me, they are gonna try to renegotiate the bonus. So as I let you do your job, you let me do mine, ok? In no time you'll have a four zeros check to deposit and a photo on the cover of the second biggest newspaper in the Nation!"
My manager is still kind of upset with me for that one time I accepted a contract without consulting him first. I've never been good at math or contracts but I love what I do so if it was for me I would say yes to every single job that different companies and newspapers would offer to me. I guess that's why I have a manager in the first place.
While walking to the headquarter of the New York Times I can't help myself to turn off my brain and just feel the energy and the atmosphere around me. Because of the important meeting, I had to leave my camera at home but my eyes keep linger on scenes that I would have immortalized with my camera if I had it with me.
"Max? Max! Are you even listening on what I'm saying? C'mon let's get inside and reconnect your brain, please"
The rest of the afternoon went by really fast between a bunch of different meetings and backlog work from when I was gone.
Now that it's dark and I'm laying on my bed in my flat I surprise myself thinking about Lucy. It's been two years since we broke up and I haven't seen her since, except sometimes on posters on the streets or magazines. Not long ago I've found out from my mum, who sometimes talks with Lucy's grandma, that she has a serious relationship with a musician and that she is really happy.
We've grown so much since that day in April, I can't even fully realize it.
Suddenly without even really understanding why, I get up and grab my jacket, my camera, my keys and my phone and I'm in the street heading to Madison Square Garden. I might feel particularly nostalgic tonight or just in a happy place but I wanna see Lucy in concert and celebrate our achievements even though she won't know it.
The subway ride is fast and dodging the people that walk slower than me make me arrive at destination sooner that I thought. At the tickets booth the employee gives me a weird look when I ask for one ticket.
"The concert is half way thru it" he says with a boring voice but he gives me the ticket as soon as I pull out the money from my wallet.
"Keep walking straight and follow the music, you should be able to find the stage" He starts saying while I'm already walking down the hall.
As soon as I walk on the floor the music and the screaming hit me hard. The energy in the arena is tangible: every one is jumping, dancing and singing with Lucy and the band. I had to give a few shoves to go a little bit forward until I find the perfect glimpse between heads and arms and I have a clear view of the stage.
