NOW
She looked at her fingers, ran them across her cheeks,
Who sat by her side? A hand had held mine as I slept? Who tucked the wisp of hair?
A smile which rarely appeared, made its way to her lips.
The sun had moved up warming her room,
She felt a strange lightness inside her.
Freshening up she wheeled herself to the little pond in the garden.
A ray of sun caught a water droplet and it glittered.
She wanted to dive in; the ripples seemed to beckon to her.
Deep within, she felt a sea breeze, a taste of salt.
Her head bent, her eyes tried to look beyond the water that was still.
She closed her eyes, she felt as if a wave had moved and risen beneath her feet,
She reached down as if wanting to the touch the foaming water.
A gate creaked.
Her hand stopped,
Stillness filled the air,
Her heart felt him before her eyes did.
She turned;
He was standing near the gate, the warmth in his eyes seemed to touch her.
An urge to run to him,
she rose from the chair,
Her feet took a step, her eyes spoke a question, lips smiled.
Why am I drawn ? Why do I feel safe? Your fingers have I touched?
She moved forward, her steps slow.
She wanted move faster, Let this not be another dream, do not fade away again.
LA, his voice she heard'La'..LA, it resounded inside her..
Grey eyes closed, the shadows within shifted and stirred, the shroud like curtain moved a fraction.
LA.. the name echoed
A gasped escaped as Lashes lifted , a tear formed.
LA'.. she heard it deep within her.
LA my love someone called from within the shroud, someone standing in the shadows,
A sob escaped.
Near the gate he stood, the water was calling her, he knew.
His hand went still, as she turned,
His face schooled from showing his pain, his love.
No not yet La, for now I can only be a stranger.
He watched her raise to her feet,
His heart hurt, like a waif she stood, her soft gown flowed.
His breath stopped, as she took a step,
His feet moved, her eyes he held, the question he saw?
LA, the name escaped before he could stop..
He saw grey eyes close, did she remember? Did the curtain move?
Her gasp, her sob, he wanted to draw her to him.
Her fingers reached up, fluttering near his cheek..
Her lips formed a question.
Do I know you?
The shadows were moving he was sure.
Arjun
8