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I squeeze my way through the mass of human bodies, escaping the crowded bar onto to the quiet street. I leave the increasingly muffled shouts behind and start to walk toward the shops and cafes I passed earlier. Except for a woman walking her dog I was all alone. I let the soles of my shoes slap the pavement as I take in the city smells and slightly humid summer breeze. The sun occasionally blinds me as I pass small gaps in the buildings and black porch railings. The crème-painted architecture around me reflects a soft orange hue as the air around me starts to get cooler. I start to pass another crowded restaurant, hearing it before I see it. I pause for a moment to attempt to peer over the sea of heads and limbs to check the score on the television over the bar without success, although I can guess that the numbers are close from the suspense and longing that envelop the scene like a thick fog. I continue my way down the street as silence joins me once again. Shadows begin to mirror the left side of the street, reaching for their opposite, as my own figure is detailed on the pathway in front of me. My head snaps up as I am suddenly shoved into the nearby railing. Down the street the restaurant vomits its patrons all at once. Ghosttown no more, I start to quicken my stride as the street becomes choked with red, white, and blue. The screaming is temporarily interrupted by the deafening roar of a motorcyclist screeching down the road. I see a mother yank her young son out of the way of recklessness just in time. He starts to tear up as he wipes the sticky reside of a slightly melted frozen treat onto his shirt. An automobile turns 180 degrees as its passengers climb onto the hood waving miniature flags. I turn the corner and immediately encounter a wave of smoke. My nostrils fill with a bitter stench that causes tears to slide down my cheeks and my chest to burn with lack of oxidation. Someone throws fireworks and amidst the popping and crackling I feel a hand aggressively grab my arm and yank me to the side, my back pressed against the smooth chill of a café window. The hand continues to guide me as we strive to consistently move forward towards our destination. “Where were you? You were supposed to meet us back at the restaurant before the end of the game.” We move with the crowd until we find the river, where we exchange our pre-bought tickets for entry, with a slightly impatient glare from the gentleman behind the counter. Our bodies involuntarily lunge forward as the floor underneath us lurches to life. The boat leaves bubbling ripples behind, and I sit back against the wooden bench and unstick the stray strands of hair from my forehead. Crowds have gathered on the banks and bridges to sing and throw garage into the black depths beneath. The city lights suddenly dim and I feel rain drops on my bare shoulders start to soak through my shirt. The clearly intoxicated men laugh as they throw the now empty can into the water from atop the bridge we just emerged from. The lively currently bounces the light back from the city above, and time seems to move as though someone pressed a fast-forward button on life. As we make our way back to the port, I look up to find that the buildings around us are illuminated in red, white, and blue with the years “1998” and “2018” prominently displayed. I had no part in this victory, yet I shared in the sense of pride and accomplishment that surrounded me. I lean my head back and laugh at the cloudy navy-blue sky as celebration fades into the background and I am once again alone with the city.