Journeys Along The Roadway

October, 2004... I started a small piece of fiction roughly based on some things that are currently happening in my life. Hope that you all enjoy it.

It could have been any other day, but somehow I knew that it was different. It had all the earmarks of a wonderfully special day. And why would I complain about such a wondrous day? The sunrise from the window was amazing. The hues of pinks, reds, purples and blues were varied and the incredible sight of a volcano in the distance was so surreal that I was unsure if it was real or not.

The day could have been anywhere at that point, but I was in the largest city in the world. A cosmopolitan, urban sprawl filled with filth both animate and inanimate. But at the same time, in a city of millions what would be the chances of being struck by lightening? In a city of millions what was the possibility of meeting someone that struck such a deep feeling of something more profound than another friendship?

Yet there, in that pit of human filth and squalor, who would have thought to have found such a bright gem as to be compared with a diamond in all it's polished brilliance? There she stood, a simple smile upon her face. Outward simplicity and within, a multi-faceted and multi-dimensioned woman of greater talent and intellect than she would let on to be.

As the conversations begin, the spark of friendship soon kindles deeper emotions and the desire to know more about her flares into interest in earnest. Our discussions travel the world to incude our pasts, our presents and our dreams for the future. As these discussions go along it seems more and more certain that our paths may be meant to be entwined. And then it happens. The opportunity to test and see if there is truth to the sentiment. To test the possibility and potential of a new love.

And as the opportunity has opened the door for us both to be together, a new door has opened. As I start towards one of my own goals, she too has received her own new opportunity abroad and prepares for her own journey abroad. Away from our crossroads she heads and begins her own sojourn along the road of life. I tell her it would not be right of me to ask her to stay or to make her hold back. If this is meant to be, than the distance and time will be but a breath during the course of a single day and our happiness will endure it. If it is not meant to be, than at least I will not be her regret, nor her mine.

The paths to happiness are many and varied and it seems that I've taken the first few steps along a new and unblazened path in my life. I wonder about the journey and what pains and joys lie ahead of me.

There in the distance, the jungle looms with its cacophony of sounds. The trees overhead carry the sounds of birds more tropical than I am accustomed. The ground swelters with the heat of a passing summer. She stands in the distance and I can begin to make out the delicate features of her face. The dimples of her smile, the wrinkle of her eyes as she squints her eyes in the sunshine.

She approaches and her smile brightens. I feel the pace of my heart pick up with her recognition. It is such an exhilarating feeling. I can see such a wondrous future when I look deep into her eyes. She approaches and reaches out her hand and takes mine in hers. She pulls me into an embrace and in the briefest of kisses, our sentiment for each other is seen.

She frowns as a thought passes her mind, and we walk towards the door in silence. The door opens onto the roadway and a decision awaits. We feel the need to talk and we head towards a nice, quiet restuarant in the area. The joy and sadness intermingle as we are intimitely aware of the others nearness. I loose my hand from hers and slip it around her to pull her that little bit closer to my side. And we continue down the road.

"I will be leaving to Asia in a week", and with those words the silence is broken. I look at her and pull her close, stopping our walk to look into her eyes.

"I know my sunshine, but that is 7 days away from right now. Until then, let me just enjoy your presence here at my side." She looks back and she bites her lip as she supresses a smile.

"I can't help it, I will miss you."

"And I you." I smile back, staring into her eyes hiding the tears that begin to swell from my heart.

"It's going to be magnificent, isn't it."

"Yes, my sunshine. There is so much that awaits you when you arrive. I want you to tell me all about it. Tell me about the stars that watch over you, the sun that warms your day, the smells of the city that surround you and the monotony of your daily routine." I pull her close and kiss her gently to reassure myself of her safety and our dreams.
"Now, we should get walking, before we miss out on our reservations."

She smiles and kisses me gently, pulling me deeper into her embrace before we part and continue walking along the roadway. We head along in silence, wrapped in each others arms as we go out on our first date.

26-Oct-2004 :: RWM

Questions, comments? You know where you can reach me to tell me just how off my rocker I am.