Black. That is all I see. That is all I have felt since that day, he thought. Stop it man! Control yourself. This is your one day of the year to see her again.

As he sat on his demon machine, he slowly zipped up his suit, secured his helmet and goggles and grasped the handlebars. He took a deep breath and before cranking up his death machine, he slowly turned his head toward the audience. He could picture the awe in their faces, but he was not there for any of that. No sympathy. He was here to see her again, ever since the tragic accident where he lost the love of his life and vision in that fiery crash on I-95 many years ago.

He heard the drunken cheers as he turned his head forward again and cranked up the machine.

This is what he lived for now. The bike roared as he revved it repeatedly. The feel of the motor between his legs and the smell of the smoke from the tailpipes brought him back to the day, when he had lost his wife and his vision by some drunk asshole who came into his lane, ending the life he used to cherish and love. The rage, self-pity and despair that he held in contempt every day of his life were gone if only for this moment. With every roar of the engine he could start to see her face again. This is the only way he could bring her back. But each year the vision was slowly fading.

Maybe, this will be the last time, he mused and a morbid smile came. The last blast! He revved the motor again and again each time the roar increasing. Then he felt the tap on his shoulder and all his clarity was back. He revved the bike to its highest possible RPMs and let go of the clutch. The bike stayed firm and he could feel the back tire spinning and heating until he could smell the burning rubber.

Yes, he thought, this is it! He would just fly off the stage and into the crowd, taking his torturing memories and a few of the spectators with him and end his struggle once and for all. The rear tire was no longer just smoking. It was a burning ring of fire. The crowd winced.

As he held on to the bike with all his might, her face came back to him and he could see her bright as day.  She was smiling and saying,

“Let’s go for a joy ride honey. The day is splendid.”

He could not let go of this vision of her nor could he let go of the bike. He held fast, reeling in her memory. Then he smelled the familiar sound of the fire extinguisher putting out the fire and her face was gone. He would have to wait until the next year to see her again.