The three of them sat on a green bench.
Rust, gold, and flame-colored trees waved coquettishly, trying to coax the shy September sun into a farewell kiss. Delicate cirrus clouds, like white lines drawn by a talented painter's brush, accentuated the perfect blue of the sky. A noisy flight of migratory birds slowly moved between the clouds, escaping in search of their own paradise. Gray, nameless faces wandered along the park's narrow paths, hurrying to their ordinary, colorless activities. They deftly avoided the cascading leaves, lest they slow their pursuit of empty happiness. The ducks, splashing carelessly in the pond, were free from all existential worries. They waited greedily for the tasty morsels thrown to them by an elderly woman in a brown coat.
Todd watched it all impassively, lost in the vast depths of his mind.
Today, he was uniquely placed among his friends. He sprawled comfortably, stretching his long legs out onto the pale gravel of the main avenue. His hands, resting on the back of the bench, embraced his companions noncommittally. Todd moved his fingers slightly, assuring himself they were really there. A deep furrow cut across the man's forehead.
"It's so strange..." he finally said.
"What?" Rebel asked, looking at him gently.
"You know..." he was lost in the maze of words. "Me being here with you and all..."
"It's been a strange week," she replied, resting her chin on her hand. A mysterious smile graced her face, one that would have made the infamous Mona Lisa grimace seem a pale shadow of feminine beauty.
"Never again!" Jimmy added confidently, pursing his lips. "I haven't had a drink or smoked in seven long days, not to mention drugs!" "He laughed resonantly. "Well, I was a little scared..." With a childish gesture, he buried his face in the sleeve of Armstrong's jacket. Todd looked at him tenderly. That was why he loved him so much. He kissed Jim on the forehead and hugged him tightly.
Rebel sighed, staring unseeingly at the ducks greedily grabbing another bread ball. "
We were all scared. Very scared. We went through hell. Luckily, everything had a happy ending." She smiled happily.
"Yes..." he admitted. "The sentence 'The result is false, and you're not sick at all' was the most beautiful sentence I've ever heard in my entire life, believe me..." "
I do," she nodded vigorously. "At least now we know that drinking alcohol before an AIDS test isn't the best idea. They really put you in a good place at that clinic. That 'joke' wasn't funny at all," she stated indignantly.
"Yeah, but I deserved it, at least!" he laughed, his chest free of the burden of worry. "I don't blame them. It made me realize a few things. And I've never been so glad to be over the flu...
" "And now even that doesn't bother you anymore..." she whispered melancholy, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Yes, it's wonderful. I feel..." he couldn't find the right words, "I feel... so... light."
"Careful, you'll fly away!" Jimmy said cheerfully from near his friend's bridge. The three of them laughed in unison.
Todd tilted his head back and looked up at the clouds. The clarity of the sky perfectly matched the peace of his soul.
"You know what? I always wanted to be a musician..." he began, his eyes misting over. But he quickly recovered and burst into nervous laughter. "Stupid, right?"
"Dreams are never stupid," Rebel replied with conviction. "It's never too late to make them come true," she declared forcefully, tucking her head under her companion's chin.
Todd smiled not only with his facial muscles but with his whole heart. He cradled in his arms the two beings he loved above all else. Could anything be more beautiful?
He narrowed his eyes and gazed at the sun, sinking below the fiery horizon.
"I've been reborn. I've been given a second chance," he thought. "That was a miracle..." "
It's getting late. Let's go home," he announced, savoring every word. Home, how beautiful that sounds...
They agreed eagerly. The evening chill was slowly reaching out to seize unwary passersby and sink its icy teeth into them.
They rose from the bench, still pressed tightly together, and turned down a side alley, kicking up a tornado of multicolored leaves.
Todd glanced over his shoulder and mouthed a single word.
Heaven understood, though.
...Thank you...
Brak komentarzy:
Prześlij komentarz