Artist: Taras Loboda

Path

As the cool breeze flows pass, Emily slows her pace. The wispy sensation on her skin triggers a familiar feeling within. She instinctively extends her fingers – expecting his touch. She hesitantly opens herself to a flood of buried emotions – her desires …

The rustle of leaves to her left brings Emily’s thoughts back to her surroundings. With a vague feeling that she is returning from another moment in time, she slowly starts to look around. Trees line the path in front of her – ‘how far have I walked – and how long?’ she asks herself. She tries to remember if this is the place – the place she always seems to feel him.

Emily smiles as she hears his whisper on the breeze – softly teasing her. His voice flows within – resonating in rhythm with her heart. She strains to hear his words – always so close … and, yet always just out of reach. He’s here – she knows it – feels it. She breathes him in with the sweet smell of soggy leaves wafting in the air – enveloping her – protecting her.

Something within drives her to the edge of the path – to a particular elm tree. She feels the tree breathing – branches swaying – leaves dancing with the breeze. A shadow movement behind the leaves catches her eye – tricks of the sunlight filtering through the tree, perhaps. And then … and then … she smiles as she sees it appear – a hidden path – the first time it is visible to her.

“Today”, his voice says within her as she takes a step inside…

Michael