The Ocean at the Bottom of a Grease Bin

The air was warm, warmer than it had been in a long time. They walked along the narrow streets of the Plateau, her hands grasping his arm tightly as if afraid she might fall. A broken flower adorned her hair. The streetlamps may have been able to outshine the stars, but they were reminiscent of a candle’s dying glow in comparison to the glistening in her eyes. “I can smell the ocean” she told him in a slightly confused, yet wistful voice. “The ocean?” he replied sniffling, his cold not yet completely gone. “Yes, yes! The ocean! It’s wonderful” she repeated, this time with a little more conviction and enthusiasm. He glanced around and a look of comprehension washed over his face. He pointed in the direction of some old buildings and said “See over there? There’s a restaurant that cleans out their grease bins in the back. What you smell now are the sardines.” She let out a laugh and he smiled. “The ocean was more romantic” she whispered, beaming.

Based on a true story.