I'm back in my room at the University Inn for the night. I just spent my evening at the Fireside. I really tried to take in the environment while I drank my two beers. The bartender was very sweet to me. Eclectic music played on the loudspeaker, but I felt a little out of place. I didn't really talk with anyone and I began to think a lot about Matthew. I thought about where he was sitting, what he was feeling, why he might have left with Aaron and Russell- maybe they offered him a ride home, maybe he thought they might be gay in a sea of straight cowboys. The walk back was a long one. Some girls honked as I crossed the street. Grand Avenue is eerily dark at night and I was a little frightened. I thought, "Bad things don't happen in Laramie." Only to immediately respond with "Wait, bad things do happen here." And I thought of Zubaida again, "We ARE like this."

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