Silence
With her index finger lightly touching her lower lip, Kristen stares out of her bedroom window – lost in thoughts of Michael. Moments ago, she was flowing along in his arms – was it really moments ago she wonders? She looks back to her bed – so comforting earlier – empty now.
He came to her this morning in her dream – it has to mean something. The fourth night in a row she dreamt him. And yet … she still hadn’t heard from him – not a single word. Is this really how it ends she wonders … nothing but empty silence?
As if he hears her thoughts, her favorite red cardinal pierces the silence with a series of musical chirps – evoking an instant smile that transforms her worried face. Kristen finds him in his usual spot – the oak tree branch just above the bird feeder. He seems to be looking right at her as he lets out another series of chirps – followed by a long silence – as if he expects her reply.
Thankful for the momentary reprieve from silence, her thoughts slowly return to Michael. But now, she feels the notes start to return and play in her mind. She moves her fingers to her chest and begins to tap out the melody – to bring the music close to her heart. She feels the notes resonate within her – she smiles inside to see her friend still watching her – does he know she wonders?
The music begins to evolve and expand within her. Michael is close – he has to be – she hears him in the music – her passion on fire. Without realizing it, she sweeps her hands in the air – the notes play on her fingertips. She quickly walks in rhythm with the notes to the door and towards her piano in the parlor – she has to release them into the air.
Sitting at her piano, with eyes closed – her fingers momentarily rest silent on the keys. She feels his presence – the silence ends now.
Reply
Vaguely watching the branches sway in the breeze, Michael wonders why he dreamt Kristen again. He looks back to his bed – once so comforting – simply empty now. Four days – and more importantly, four nights – he hadn’t heard from her – not a single word. The silence echoes more loudly with each passing day.
Suddenly realizing his index finger is lightly touching his lower lip, he smiles – a sad smile all the same. He sees her clearly; her finger on her lip – so delicate – so inviting. And here, he is – alone, looking out of his bedroom window. Is this really how it ends he wonders … nothing but empty silence?
As if she hears his thoughts, a cardinal pierces the silence with a series of musical chirps – evoking a genuine smile that transforms his face. Michael spots her in a swaying oak tree branch. She seems to be looking right at him as she lets out another series of chirps – followed by a long silence – as if she expects his reply. And there is a reply – but not from Michael.
He hears another series of musical chirps – different from his cardinal. She hears it too – her head darting up and down in rhythm to the chirps. She gives Michael a long look before darting from the branch towards his window and then banking in the direction of the chirps.
As his cardinal flies out of sight, his thoughts slowly return to Kristen. He notices his fingers tapping on his chest. That’s when he begins to wonder – couldn’t be – could it? Kristen’s red cardinal… and before he realizes what his soul already knows, Michael is heading towards her.
Presence
With her fingers alive and ready to play, Kristen takes a deep breath – not yet, she thinks – does she really feel his presence she wonders? A sudden loud burst of chirps surprises her – and she smiles seeing her red cardinal sitting in an oak tree branch, visible from her parlor window.
But, it is the slightly different burst of chirps that really catches her ear – and she spots another cardinal a branch away from her red cardinal – hopping closer as she chirps. Mesmerized by their dance, Kristen feels Michael’s presence flow through her – he is here – he has to be, she thinks.
She feels him silently enter the room – no words as he sits behind her – she knows he is intently watching her. With eyes closed, her fingers begin their dance across the keys – the music in rhythm with the cardinals’ singing – and he closes his eyes to take in her beauty as the music washes over him.
Kristen smiles inside knowing he hears her playing to him from her soul – without a word, they connect. Her whole body flows with the music released through her fingers. She feels his electric touch with each stroke of the keys – anticipating between each note.
With the last note, she dares to open her eyes – and turns around to find only a shadow playing against the chair – where Michael should be. “But, his presence is so strong”, she sighs – and the two cardinals – and the dreams – it has to mean something.
A little lost, she looks to the cardinals in the tree as if to ask “What now?” She decides she must be seeing things – is that a smile from her red cardinal? Perplexed, she absently traces her finger along her lower lip – momentarily lost in thoughts of Michael. And then … and then … the familiar knock on her door takes her breath away…
Artist: Childe Hassam; Author: Mike Evans
