That’s us, crawling through clouds of dry ice and strobe. The tangy burnt smell of it fills my mouth and I cough. Somewhere on the dancefloor the boys are lost in their own worlds.

The heavy bass beat vibrates through my boots. With my head pressed against the stacked sub-woofers I can feel the gust that the music makes on my face, in my hair. The slight current is a blessing in this cramped and sweaty place.

Another blast of dry ice.

Someone grabs my hand.
‘C’mon’ the voice deep, lips close to my ear. I can smell pizza on his breath, I know it’s one of ours. A flash of black jeans, white skinny arms.
‘Tom!’
I follow into the maelstrom.
‘Higher than the Sun’. The Dub Symphony mix.

We’re moshing now, crushed against one another. I’m vaguely aware of other bodies surrounding me, but the rhythms’ got me. The music swells and I twist in the crush. I am the hub of the medicine wheel.

Brief flashes of arms, faces, elbows. Hands grab my waist, wrap round me and Rachel is there. Shelli not far behind. The boys open the circle, we three hang against each other for support. Again the circle closes and we are protected.

We think things will always be like this.

But that was 16 years ago. Tonight I listen to the music again. Everything has changed. If I close my eyes I can remember it all.
‘Higher than the Sun’ on my ipod.

And thoughts of Mark, Matt, Charles, Rick, Tommy, Ian and Chad.

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Inspired by Into the Fog by Flickr user sevres-babylone. Not sure who else is in this week but check out the usual suspects: The Gurrier, Chris, Linus, Tadmack, TeaandCakes, LittleGoat and Aquafortis.