...after the Iron Maiden concert.

“Maiden!” He screams to the crowd around him.

“Maiden!” They respond, voices still hoarse from screaming all night.

“Maiden?” He calls again, lost in their shared moment.

“Maiden!” They answer, unified in joy at their still recent, still unbelievably potent communal experience.

“Maiden!”

“Maiden!”

“Maiden!”

“Maiden!”

“Mai?”

“Den!”

“Mai!”

“Den!”

“Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Maiden…”

I’d completely forgotten that Iron Maiden were playing in town until I was done work that night and ready to head home.

It was basically the worst train ride I’d ever had.