| "Metaphors of the
Mind" - 1 of 1 |
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "It's like a steady heartbeat...you know? No one ever knows what you're saying until the warnings die and you have no where else to turn. Well, my warning just died. You just blew it pal.....and you can't turn to anything or anyone. May I suggest something?" There I was....sitting in a chair with this wise guy's hot breath beating on my face. I tried to keep my thoughts from randomly shooting out of my mouth, but I felt that soon I would fail. His faithful, yet gorgeous sidekick with a smug taint of laughter on her face stood against the desk, her legs crossed at the ankles. Not a thing to worry about was what was running through her mind. I can tell you, because I know. Could he suggest something? He could suggest anything he wanted to....how to win a beautiful girl's heart, how to save my life from an assassin's attempt, or just plain advice about the small things in life. I didn't care. So, I smiled back at him with the same expression, all in the same thought that started it. "Why?" I simply asked. Not that it would do me any good. He hated those types of questions. Actually, he hated it when people answered a question with a question. I knew it....so I asked. Why? Because I hated him....and he knew it. I watched as his smile grew bigger. Millimeter by millimeter, it got bigger. It was the reaction I was hoping for. I had finally broken through...there was no denying that. Within a few seconds, his smile was now insane laughter floating out of his mouth. Well, it sounded more like it was pounding rather than floating. I watched as he threw his head back as the pounding got louder and louder. He really was insane. That I knew as well. But, of course I dared not mention it. Had I done that, he would have killed me right then and there. No...he was insanely dangerous. Anyone would know what I was talking about if they had been sitting in that chair, watching him. There was the gun he so casually played with as if was a misplaced chess piece. His finger so close to the trigger, I found it hard to sit still. Just one pull would do me in for good. I was losing control. I knew it as soon as the first drop of perspiration formed on my brow. Was I scared? No...jumpy maybe, but never was I scared. I had learned early in life to avoid fear at all costs. So far...it was going well. His voice held the lingering affects of his laughter like a mother holds her newborn babe. He spoke with obvious disgust toward me...or humanity in general...I couldn't tell. "Why? Why you ask?" Now, I found this ironic, because he had just answered my question with a duplicate of it. The man didn't know his own mind. But I did. He was about to do something drastic. I could feel it in my blood as sure as I could feel the wind outside on a windy day. In the sudden silence, one of the loudest noises I had ever heard, entered my ears. The gun had been brutally slammed into the surface of the desk. "I'll tell you why!" His loud outburst was only second to the loud sound that had just occurred. "You are the life-force that everything is driven on. People count on you in ways that you could never imagine. But they can't anymore! You just blew it! My suggestion to you is that you better run as far away from here as you can! Don't you ever even think about coming back or you'll be dead before you even get anywhere close to here." That last sentence was one of the quietest noises I'd ever heard. Apparently his warnings hadn't died...not just yet. But I knew when enough was enough and I took his suggestion at heart. I would have to care...this time. His sidekick released the ropes around my feet that binded me to the chair. I rose, ever so slowly, not making the mistake of taking my eyes off of him for a second. I pulled at the bindings on my hands. They, however, were not rope...but chains. The kind that you could only get out of with the right key. It was a key that I didn't know how to get to. I looked at each one, expecting then to free me of the chains, but neither did so much as move. They stared me down cold like I was a statue they were admiring. I couldn't finish the job and God knows they weren't about to either. As far as they were concerned, they had done all that they could do....I can tell you that, because I know. There was the silence again. That, I can tell you without a doubt, is the loudest thing I've ever heard in my life. It drowned out the gun and the yelling. The silence was my last warning as I walked out the door. I had nothing to turn to....I had just died. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- There it was. Now it's gone. I saw it all. The museum, the painting, the tree, the jungle, and the falls. That voice that had invaded her life was dead. "You're afraid of me." The phrase that she had buried in the depths of her mind had resurfaced out of nowhere just now as he said it. A flash...then the tree. No one was there. I looked straight out and saw the outline of the city. Leaves were forcefully blown into my face by the wind. I looked down and saw the ground so far below. So far I had come, only to find that I hadn't advanced at all. Hope springs eternal....eternity had just ran short. I inched my way across the thick limb of which I was standing on. My hand was outstretched against the trunk to brace myself. I was out of practice...anyone would be able to tell. I crouched down and curled my hands around the limb, being careful to get just the right hold. In an instant, I pushed off and flew through the air, but my feet never touched the ground. They dangled above the grass as I closed my eyes. A fear ran through my blood like the wind ran through my hair. Fear was something that I had never tried to avoid. It had to be dealt with or else it would never leave you. This fear though, I could not rid myself of. It kept taunting me day and night. It had always been there, I just kept it hidden. No one could know...not even him. He knew though, of course. He always knew. It had to be a gift. He didn't know the power of his own mind, but I did. His power always demanded control and he was fast losing it. I could tell. The wind began to quicken its pace and the leaves began dancing to its song. I knew when enough was enough. Opening my eyes, I saw that the sky had darkened and a storm was setting in. I pulled myself back up onto the tree limb and carefully stood. It was difficult to balance when the wind was so harsh. Quickly, I sought escape from the storm. My foot slipped, though this time, without me having hold of anything to keep me from falling so completely. One of the loudest sounds I've heard entered my ears. It was the sound of my body brutally slamming against the ground below the tree. That was truly the loudest sound I'd ever heard because this time...no one was there to catch me. I had just died. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- The waves crashed onto the shore, announcing their majestic presence. I threw a stray stick into the ocean that I had found embedded in the white sand. The wind blew its rough course through my hair and loose clothes, leaving them tousled. I stuffed my hands back into the pockets of my tan shorts and let the soothing sounds of the ocean cover the wound on my heart. I saw him, walking through the sand. He was quiet and reserved. It was the right time. I brushed the branches away of the bush I was crouched behind. He knew I was watching, but didn't seem to mind. I began to walk toward him, my goal to meet him in mid stride. I could see her coming out of the corner of my eye. There was nothing I could do to stop it. I had ran as hard as I could, but still did not get away. Was I about to die again? I knew that I didn't want to hurt her at any cost. Obviously she was determined to talk to me though. Her stride was purposeful. All I wanted to do was unlock the chains that binded my hands together. She was the key...but I still did not know how to get to it. There he was, standing in front of me. His eyes were riveted on mine. "I thought you never wanted to see me again." His tone was soft, but carried great defense in it. I felt tears threaten my emotions, but I fought back hard, not willing to give up. Not willing to give him up. I reached out gingerly and placed my hands on his strong chest. "What we say in anger, we say in vain." I watched as he looked out into the ocean. His blue eyes searching its blue depths. All I wanted was to have my eternity back. I wanted him to catch me the next time I fell. His gaze into the ocean was so intense that it scared me. There was that fear again. But this time, I knew it was going to be all right. This time it would go away...forever. "I'm not afraid of you anymore, Imzadi. I love you." I paused, looking for the right words. "Can I suggest something?" He turned back to look at me. "Marry me," he asked. Now I could feel the tears as they fell freely from my eyes. I could feel his strong arms around me under the tree. I felt eternity grip me once again and a new life beginning. My hands brushed through his hair lovingly and I kissed his lips. "Yes, precisely what I was going to suggest," was her response and she kissed me again. I heard the chains rattling and then fall to the ground. She had unlocked them for me and now I was free. I pulled my hands from my pockets and wrapped my arms around her tightly. The good thing about our arguments is that we can make up just as easily as if it never happened. I felt his hand as it took mine and led me back to the beach house. The fight was long forgotten and forgiven. Our death had been mutual....but our life together was destiny. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- Will looked down at his new wife of only a few hours. She was so beautiful lying there next to him. He couldn't believe that a simple fight had almost denied him of what he was feeling now. All he wanted to do was be with her forever...but eternity would have to wait for now. They were only beginning. Deanna reached out and probed her new husband's feelings. They were feelings of warmth and love. She couldn't possibly imagine how she could ever be angry with him. He was so incredible. She looked down at their entwined hands that proudly displayed their gold wedding rings. All she wanted to do was be with him forever...but eternity would have to wait. They were only beginning. |