quickly as they appeared, they were gone. We were alone. Dorian stood and began to

descend the steps. I held on to the gate. I was afraid to move. It felt as if the world

beneath me was in drift.

“What….What was that, Dorian? And what happened to your eyes? Explain it to

me!” I said. I felt as though I was the one who was going to cry. He reached into his coat

and pulled a card from his pocket. He held it out to me and said, “If you wish to know

more…..If you think you can handle more, and I hope you can, meet me at the address on

this card tomorrow night at seven and we’ll talk. I need some time alone now to mourn

his passing.” I remember thinking that if all he needed was one day to mourn, is it worth

it to be mourned at all by one who does not mourn for long, but that was unfair. I didn’t

really know him anymore than he knew me. Anyhow, I just stood there, holding on to

that iron gate for dear life. After a few seconds to gather my wits, I reached for the card

and tucked it into my pocket. Dorian smiled and said, “Until tomorrow night then. Good

night Allen Dennio, my new friend.” He turned to walk away. The snow began to fall. I

called to him. “Are you just going to leave him here?” I gestured to the dead man on the

church steps. “I care not for that meat sack. The only thing it had of any value is gone

now, besides the Priest will find it in the morning. He’ll know what to do.”

Of course I thought all the normal things, like how disrespectful it was to the dead

man to leave him there in the cold, and what kind of monster would do such a thing, but I

already knew that Dorian was absolutely right in all that said. It was very pragmatic, but

perfectly awful. I suppose that such a creature as he must be used to doing things just that

way. I watched him walk away, disappearing into the darkness of the city. After a time, I

also began to walk. I went back the way we’d came, then up 3rd and finally to here. I

wondered why he called it an ugly miracle. It was actually quite a beautiful thing- To be

ushered on by children. There were things he hadn’t told me, I realized. I didn’t get the

full picture. I was driving myself crazy with all sorts of questions, so I tried to convince

myself that I didn’t actually see the things I’d seen tonight, but obviously that didn’t work

because here I am, talking to you.

Does he want something of me you ask? Yes. Yes, I think he does, but I can’t

imagine what it is. Maybe he just needs an ear, or a friend. That’s what he kept calling

me; his “New friend.” I don’t know if I can handle any more ugly miracles, to use his

words, but it seems I have until tomorrow to know for sure. You want to know what do I

think of what happened? I think what some folks don’t realize until it’s too late is that

ordinary every day life offers a comfort that is utterly destroyed and irretrievable in the

face of miracles. That’s what I think.  No, as I said, I don’t care if you believe me or not.

It‘s better for you I think if you don’t. After all, this is where I’m supposed to meet him.