Artist: Denise Armstrong

A Shiver

Claire looked out the window, vaguely conscious of the light snow fall. Thoughts streaming through her like the sun filtering through the trees in her view. Usually, she was so clear in her thinking – the images, sharp in her mind. But, today … yes – but, today … damn, she couldn’t even keep a train of thought on what was bothering her.

She felt Ethan’s hand stroke her shoulder, as he whispered into her ear “It will be alright Claire.” She recoiled involuntarily at his touch, which surprised them both. No, she thought – it was not going to be alright – at least, not today.

Now, it was Ethan looking awkwardly out the window. Claire hated the feeling she had at this moment – but, she couldn’t stop the overwhelming flood of bad thoughts. “You want me to leave?” he asked. She momentarily whirled around to face him and then quickly turned back towards the window – she said nothing.

Ethan stood there for a minute – suddenly numb – he was just an arms reach from her – yet, miles away. He couldn’t fix this, he knew – he had no magic time machine to go back to yesterday. He slowly turned and walked to the foyer. He quietly put on his coat, wrapped his scarf around his neck and pulled his gloves out his pockets.

Before opening the door, he turned to say it … but, the words would not come out.

Claire didn’t hear the door open, but she felt the blast of cold air hit her and then subside – a shiver ran through her body. She continued to stare blankly at the trees lining the edge of the forest in the back.

The sight of Ethan walking into the woods came into her view – and she began to softly cry. Although she willed him to, he never looked back – and all traces of him were erased by the snow fall quickly covering his tracks as he disappeared into the woods.

Footsteps

Ethan knew Claire’s eyes were on him as he entered the woods, but he couldn’t turn around – not now. With the first step into the woods – his woods – he felt the soothing energy envelop him. Yes, he thought – he had been away much too long.

With each step, he felt his energy rise – he began to hear the trees – he smiled at his friends – yet, it was a slightly sad smile. As he felt the familiar warmth flow through his body, he shed his coat, scarf and gloves – such binding material he thought. But, he needed them outside of the woods.

His cabin was about a mile in – yet, a world away from Claire – yes, Claire … he sighed. The whispering snow brushing against his exposed skin brought him out of his reverie. Now, he smiled in earnest – he missed the silent beauty of snow as it danced with the breeze and landed with cooling purity against him.

He found himself playing with the snow fall – moving about in rhythmic patterns – making them chase him as he walked. Before he knew it, his cabin was in sight – he felt its energy before he actually saw it. As he neared the entrance, he instinctively reached up to feel the lower branch of his founding tree – a soft murmur floated in the air.

Stroking the branch, he said aloud – although unnecessary – “She thought I was crazy.” He heard the breeze acknowledge in response. “Of course she would”, he said a bit louder – getting more agitated. He felt the soothing energy surge around him – “You’re right – it was too soon”, he said.

And then – there it was – that voice inside him – it was annoying and he couldn’t get it to go away. Maybe he was a bit crazy the voice was saying – talking with trees and snow – who does that? Suppressing the voice, he looked up to the branch of his founding tree – No, he decided – he wasn’t crazy.

The sudden sound of footsteps quickly coming up behind Ethan startled him.

Patterns

Claire dabbed at her eyes – she was determined not to cry. She couldn’t turn away from the window, though she knew Ethan was gone from sight. Something kept her there – inertia she tried to reason with herself. She was just tired from the events of the last day … the “events” – she couldn’t even say it.

A sudden flash of light from the woods caught her eye – then it was gone. She strained to catch it again – expecting it to return – and it did for another brief moment. But she realized it wasn’t the flash that captured her attention. Instead, it was the oddly familiar pattern created by the sunlight – filtered through the trees upon the snow on the ground.

Why did it look so familiar? Something Ethan said last night – what was it? She searched for it in her mind, but only found the bad thoughts there. Trying to explain the “events”, he shared with her that he talked to trees – he talked to snow … and even more fantastic – they talked with him. Surely, he was crazy – he had to be – and yet … and yet. “Snap out of it”, her inner voice of reason cried.

Exhausted, she still found herself drawn to that pattern on the ground – what was it? The image … the image – and then it hit. It was the outline of Ethan – impossible, but there it was – and it appeared that his arms were motioning her to come. She quickly glanced towards the tree where the sunlight filtered through to cast that image. Now, she had to be the crazy one – the tree appeared to be smiling in her direction.

Something Ethan said – “a language unknown to most, except those who chose to see.” Her voice of reason buried away, Claire rushed to the foyer, grabbed her coat and ran towards the woods…

Michael