Jess just looked at him and shook her head sadly. “Good-bye James.”

He watched her cross the bar and push through the glass doors into the street before turning back to the bartender. “She’s crazy, man. I’d like one more, please.”

The bartender’s gaze turned to steel as he crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s time for you to go.”

“Well, fuck you, then!” James slid off the stool and weaved his way to the door and out onto the foot of Davie Street. The autumn air whirled around him, and he struggled to zip his zipper, but eventually gave up and shoved his hands into his pockets to escape the chill. His iPhone vibrated against his palm and he pulled it out and let it steady itself in front of his face. “Jess! Jess, I told you!”

He opened the Grindr application, and a message was waiting, from Robbie. Before looking at the message, he tapped on the map and saw a beacon of hope. Robbie was at the beach in English Bay, just steps away from the intersection at Davie and Denman where James stood. He hurried across the street toward the ocean. Though October had settled in, she threatened people of the approaching winter with more bark than bite and they ignored her like a street beggar shouting apocalyptic warnings. They walked their dogs and rode their bikes and generously spooled out string for their high-flying kites. A young artist sat against the trunk of a blazing red tree and sketched it all.

James stopped where the grass met the sand. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. He knew rationally that Robbie wouldn’t actually be here, and yet in his hand was the evidence that he was. He tapped the screen and opened the message.

Take off your shoes. Relax. Remember.