the facility expands

written 20240206.

after they disappeared, it was the first place i searched. years ago, it had been an open stretch of trees and grass that descended steeply to the drainage canal. it was not well maintained.

we used to divert off the path to go exploring through here, and all its weeds and ferns, although never for too long. there was a landfill, or maybe it was a wastewater treatment plant, on the other side of the canal, where bulldozers moved back and forth through the wreckage. whatever the fascination this place held for us, each visit, the foul smell of polluted water mixed with whatever was emanating from the other side would drive us before too long.

my friend has disappeared and the plant has crossed the canal, crossed it several times with a lattice of bridges and pipes. it has expanded as far as the path. the trees and grass and ferns are gone. now the place is a complicated labyrinth of concrete buildings and machinery.

the bulldozers are gone. the awful smell is gone and i almost miss it. i’ve never encountered anyone else while trespassing through. the machinery emits a faint hum but it doesn’t appear to do anything. underneath, the water in the canal still rests in stagnant pools.

i had this idea that if they were still somewhere in or near this city, that they might go wandering through here too. but here is no longer here and it’s only ever me, exploring this dead facility.