Night Vigil March Under Government Floodlights

Rain slicks the asphalt of a downtown avenue in Guangzhou, reflecting the harsh white beams of government building floodlights overhead. A dense crowd moves forward beneath the glow, their faces illuminated by the soft, flickering orange light of handheld candles. Dark overcast clouds press low against the skyline, heavy and uniform. Wet umbrellas create a shifting canopy of black and translucent blues. The crowd fills the wide street, guided by the converging lines of the road markings and building facades. Water droplets rest on the edge of a plastic sign held high, catching the light. The wet pavement mirrors the flickering flames and the rigid architecture above.