He is acutely aware of the saddness and pain around him. He sees it in the eyes of those who pass by him, he feels surrounded by it. The hurt & loneliness in the hearts of others cast shadows around him, close in on him like bars, his own personal cage. He knows he should open the doors and effect change, but how?
Not that he is a stranger to pain. Make no mistake, fear is not the issue. His life has been filled with the need to overcome. From a tiny dark house he hales, where saddness was abundant. Happiness lived there as well, and he has learned to thrive on the happy moments. Among those he is closest to, he has become accustomed to being a guide, a leader into the light, out of the darkness. He has taught so many of his nearest and dearest to thrive on the happiness as he does. But he longs to lead those around him, these sad faces he sees in his dreams, to find the beauty and happiness around them. To help them to thrive, to teach that survival is merely not death, that life is meant to be lived, loved, enjoyed.
He aches to see so many content in their discontentment. He sees them disregard beauty, overlook the everyday pleasures and gravitate toward the negativity. “How can they settle for so much less.” He wonders. “How can I lead, where do I start? ”
She sits on the fountain ledge surrounded by beauty, her inner pain blocking it out. She wears her hurt like a shroud. Occasionally a person, a sound or a breeze might catch her eye, she regards them as though through the bars of a cage, there is just solitude. Her life has a rhythm but no point. She’s been let down by so many, trust would be careless.
She wasn’t always this way, she thinks. Life had once been simple. Love was once safe. There was a time when saddness was a stranger and her heart bubbled and burst with joy, much like the fountain she sat beside. Those who had surrounded her often teased her light hearted nature. Before the darkness came. Came and enclosed her, wrapping her in this shroud. Leaving her to regard life as lonely and useless.
“How can you go back?” Her heart wonders. How does one strip away the darkness as it clings so tightly, suffocating any thoughts of freedom? Her handsbound tightly by fear-this cage has an unlocked door, if only she had the strength to overcome her bindings.
He could feel her saddness the moment he saw her. The vagueness in her eyes called to him, the beauty she held inside begged for freedom like a single crimson rose blooming from amidst the thorns and weeds. If only she could be shown freedom….
She noticed him passing by… his body screamed of life but defeat threatened in his eyes. The rarest of roses, so carefully tended, but now forgotten. If only she had the power to stop the darkness from consuming another- if only she could reach out of this cage….
I’m so sick of the darkness…
He’s not sure if he said it or thought it, but their eyes locked intensely and it was her voice he heard…
She was certain it was just a thought, but how could that deep voice be in her head… she was positive his lips never moved…
He gravitated toward her, the burning intensity of curiosity and some inexplicable sense of oneness calling him to her… how can she breath through all the weeds? Her beauty seemed to be choking in saddness and fear…” if I could help just one,” he thought, “let it be you.”
She felt him approach, fear gripping her, the darkness screaming at her to run, but his eyes… so full of life…. Wonder and need kept her rooted firmly, somewhere within a peace began to grow at his approach. .. “free me!” Her heart begged.
Fear and doubt threatened to entwine around him. .. what would he say? How could he help… the desire to know, to try pushed him forward. .. her need called for him…
Panic rose within her… what could she say? Something had to be done to help this approaching soul escape the threatening shadows… The sound of the fountain behind her danced into her mind… a moment of insanity? Or clarity?
An inner strength she had forgotten existed began to surge at his nearing presence… “its rediculous, such a terrible idea. ..”
He looked in her eyes as he finally reached her.. he saw the twinkle in her eye and thought, “yes, its there, she can see beauty, she just needs to be…”
“Free?” She spoke first. That’s not possible, he thought, then shook off his surprise quickly, a coincidence no doubt, and smiled. ..”I am.”
Her darkness sought to consume her as fear gripped her, “no, do not, look at the beauty in his eyes, hurt will happen” it screamed. But in her heart, peace was already beginning to bloom, she thought “I just need to be. …” “Free?” She spoke aloud.
A warmth grew within her at the sound of his voice, his gaze empowering her to maintain eye contact. He sat beside her and felt her drawing him to her, something deep within- like he was being absorbed by her need- like the rays of the sun on a summer garden. Small talk passedbetween them as this indescribable exchange took place…. his strength lending her the power to fight her darkness, her need feeding his soul. Her smile drew him in deeper, he feasted on the transformation he beheld. The peace that washed over him seemed to reach out… touching her, stripping away her shroud.
As the conversation grew charged with emotion, he felt his freedom surge. Her shroud of fear and saddness at her feet, she began to tremble at the unknown- fear threatened to grip her once again as it welled up inside her, promising hurt if this man continues to leave her exposed and vulnerable. Her feet begged to run and she diverted her gaze, the familiarity of her shroud beginning to rise up around her…. He saw the twinkle in her eye begin to fade, the weeds of fear and doubt beginning to overwhelm her… he must feel her gaze! He reached out to her, hand on her chin and directed her gaze into his his eyes. He found no resistance, but saw fear well up as a tear slid down her cheek. “Let me free you” he whispered. “My cage is too strong” she weeped. “I am not afraid of your cage” he replied. “There are thorns on my chains, you will hurt” she sighed, her eyes begging him to fight for her. “I know your chains well, I grew up among those thorns. I hold the key your cage, because its so like my own. Don’t fear, my Love, trust.” Her eyes reflected her longing “I’m so afraid… I don’t know how to trust.” He slipped his arm around her back, “I can be strong enough for us both, you only have to let me hold you.”
Suddenly years of exhaustion seemed to overtake her at once. “I need” was all she could say as his arm caught her. She collapsed against him, letting the fear and saddness and darkness melt away.
He felt a strength and power surge within him as he caught her- an emotional rush like adrenaline spread throughout his being as he ripped the doors of both their cages off and vowed to himself they would never return. He held her there, feeling powerful and free, all cages and chains lay at their feet.
“What shall I call you?” She whispered. “Yours” he replied. “And you are mine, Love, forever.”
She gasped at his words, unsure how to respond. “You may call me Daddy” he instructed.
A spark began to twinkle in her eye again. “Daddy?” The word melted his heart. “Yes, Love?” She looked at the fountain, touched the cool water with her fingers, then looked into his eyes. “I need a drink, Daddy. Will you join me?” As her wet fingers caressed his cheek, her request settled into his mind. Roses swaying in the gentle breeze crossed his mind as he chuckled, “Yes, Love. Let’s dance.”
Hand in hand they stepped over the ledge of the shallow fountain. Those who passed by hardly noticed the life changing events taking place in their presence. Some looked disdainfully at the couple playing in the fountain, disregarding the behavior as youthful, uncalled for. Inside the borders of the fountain, though, happiness and freedom have been found. In seeking to heal each other, they found the strength to stand, to smile, to dance