“I want to see the happy you” he says in jest with a slight
nudge to the arm as they walk. Though stunned at the
simplicity of such a statement, he was spot on.
Her words often showcased the more somber side of existence. But she was happy. In comparison to the last year in fact, her
current state was exponentially more pleasant.
Though her heart had been broken, she knew her past didn’t have to
dictate her feelings in the present. She had made her peace and let the ashes blow away with the wind. Were
there still days when she felt alone to the point of torpidity? Of course. But more often than not, she felt an
incredible sense of freedom. She was
young and unattached. Aside from a job
she loved, her responsibilities were minimal. The world presented endless opportunities for
her and she was yearning to revive that feeling of novelty; to experience the
raw energy of doing something completely spontaneous. The electricity of a new hand in yours, the
taste of unchartered lips, the feeling of excitement when you don’t know where
things might lead. She missed the
butterflies that came with discovering someone new; the pacing of a heart in
anticipation. But all of these things
were open to her; all contained such promise.
It was a beautiful day. She was walking outside having a
conversation of great value with someone she admired dearly. She had the liberty to go where she pleased
with whom she wished and discuss any number of ambivalent topics as she
traversed. At that moment, in the midst
of a budding spring and blooming friendship, all things were possible and her
greatest happiness lied within these possibilities. Someday he too would see the beauty in that and find his own side of paradise.
