"It’s been a long time, my friend." I leaned closer towards her in the glow of the moon. "Long time no see."

A murmur of the wind outside echoed through the cold church. The snow, which had been falling since I had arrived, still fell; through the only transparent window of the building I watched as flake after flake drifted into the pale light of the moon.

"Strange meeting. It’s odd; I recall all the times we met, as if it were only last week. All at once, all the memories coming to me at the same time." I sighed and rested back against the hard, wooden pew. "They say life is a circle, so I guess we were always going to meet again."

Dust, disturbed by my presence, began slowly to settle, illuminated by both the moon and perhaps a nearby streetlamp.

"Good to see you again."

It was dark. The snow reflected what light there was, but it wasn’t much, and within the gothic structure we two were almost entirely invisible.

"I know… I’m not even going to say. I know how talking helped us in the past. It’s the only thing that got us where we are now. Well, I don’t know for definite about you, but it was for me." I closed my eyes. "I can’t even imagine."

Outside, the snow floated down on breaths of air, having the appearance of tiny angels. The miniature seraphim calmly wafted past my view through the window.

"Not again."

A rustle of the last remaining leaves from autumn sounded from behind me, as the door opened, and an icy gust of wind blew through the church.

"I’ll go shut that." I stood, and made my way to the entrance. "Wind leaves no-one in peace, huh?"

As I approached the large, wooden door, I noticed a shadowy figure in the doorway.

"Hello?" I called softly.

"Hello," returned the figure, just as softly. "And good evening to you."

"Good evening to you." I paused, unsure of this mysterious visitor.

He moved into the faint light. "Remember me?"

I squinted. "No." I looked closer. He did seem familiar.

"No problems, then."

"Problems? I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean."

"I lost my memory four years ago, so I’m afraid that I wouldn’t recognise you, even if we had been the best of friends."

"Amnesia?"

"Mental trauma. Long story." The newcomer came through the door, and made his way to where my friend was. "I don’t remember you, either. I know I should; I’ve been told."

I followed him. "It seems that a few people may well have heard about this meeting."

"I recall flashes, and in these flashes I know it was a long time ago. Not as long as it seems, though."

"I do know you, don’t I. We were-…"

"Of course. I’m sure we had great times. I just wish I could remember."

It was quiet, still as a graveyard, as no-one moved, and no-one spoke. The atmosphere was subdued; in eight years, a lifetime had passed, and here we were.

"Me, you, her. Never thought that would happen again."

"I’ve still got the car, you know."

"I have a photo."

"I heard a song once. ‘Time it was, and what a time it was. A time of innocence, a time of confidences. Long ago, it must be; I have a photograph. Preserve your memories – they’re all that’s left you’."

"Well we all know what songs are."

"Do we?"

"False."

"Cynic."

"Forever. Ever since last time."

"Bet you say that every time."

"Never said it the first time. Didn’t get it then."

"I know you too, don’t I."

"I’m sure you do. Memories don’t leave, they just hide for a bit."

"Speaking from experience?"

"Misplaced everything from when I was ten, eleven, twelve. Took years to get it back."

"But you did? How?"

I smiled a wry smile. "A song," I told him.

"There were two girls outside earlier. Sitting on a fence. Wondered if they were here for the same reason that we are."

"Don’t know. Didn’t see them when I came. But if you heard and I heard, others will have done."

"True. Looked like they were leaving when I arrived. You’d have thought they would have come in if-…"

"I wasn’t going to."

"Come all this way, and not come in?"

"I didn’t come that far."

"Did you still know her?"

"No. It’s difficult to explain."

"You saw her?"

"Not since the New Year’s dance. Everyone was there, and it was the last time I saw most of them."

A knock came at the door, and a hand pushed it open.

We turned to look.

Slowly, a form entered the building, a familiar form.

I drew breath sharply. "Alicia?"