Artist: Lauri Blank
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Leaning on the patio railing, Nicole gazes out into the backyard. It’s a Sunday afternoon in late autumn. The sun streams through the trees diffusing into golden ghostly glows. In a dance with the breeze and the leaves, the glow lands as undulating patterns of shade and light on the ground – all the way to the edge of the patio. The effect feels like waves lapping against a shore – nature at play.
Nicole feels a soothing rhythm from the shadow waves as her mind slowly begins to drift. She spots a pair of butterflies – they dance in and out of the shade. She feels herself swept up in the movement of their fluttering wings. Her mind travels thousands of miles away … to him … always back to him. She sees him walking along the lake – his smile suddenly bright. He knows she is thinking of him.
Nicole feels his touch with the cool breeze on her skin. She runs her fingers over her arms in response. She watches as he bends down to pick up a pebble along the shore of the lake. He carefully examines it – appraising its shape – making sure it is just right. After a moment, he turns to her .. and with a mischievous smile, he asks her … again. Then, he turns back towards the lake and skips the pebble across the surface – she hears the words repeat with each skip.
Nicole involuntarily traces the fingers of her right hand over the pebble on the railing – then cradles it in her hand. She suddenly feels the weight of his question as she plays with the pebble in her hand. She sees his image in front of her – smiling … she sighs as the two butterflies land together inches from her hand – waiting for her reply…
Michael
