Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Farewell


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Gray clouds filled the sky in the cold, moisture filled air that was still settling from the early morning. The dull sound of phones rang while voices came from a hall in the office building. The young woman peered out her office window that was blocked by a tall cement structure that she would often jokingly say; was put there to prevent workers from jumping out the window. She wondered if she could get off work early as her heart raced; she knew that the man she loved was moving away and she may never see him again. Her heart sank as she thought of him being at a further distance than he already was.

The young woman got up from her desk and went through the doorway; she walked down the hall towards her manager's office. “Can I take a half day today instead of tomorrow?” She asked "My best friend is leaving town and I don’t know when I’ll see him again.” Her boss looked at her with a piercing glare and said, “I suppose.” She responded with a “Thank you!” She turned and ran back down the hall towards her office. Her excitement was temporarily covering up the sorrow that she knew she would soon have to come to terms with.

It began raining as she forcefully broke through the building doors, trying to remember where she had parked her car; searching for her car as though it was her heart, lost in the parking lot. “Calm down,” She told herself. “I have to hurry before he leaves.” At last she remembered where she had parked and rushed to open her car door. She knew it was at least a forty-five minute drive but she could make it in thirty minutes; she would have driven hours if she had to, heading towards the freeway entrance.

The music played in the background as she anticipated his face opening the door. She questioned whether he would be happy or angry to see her but she didn’t care which; she couldn’t let him leave without saying goodbye. The big city came into view as she ignored the tall buildings that surrounded her. It took all she had to keep her heart from beating out of control. “Please God, let him be home, I have to at least say goodbye,” She prayed. Thinking in the back of her mind, “I wonder if he knows I’m coming.”

Counting down the exits off the freeway, she remembered how it felt to hold him in her arms. She felt the tears accumulating in her eyes. “Get a grip!” “You can’t show up there crying,” She told herself. Turning her right blinker on, she headed off the freeway exit and rushed to the stop light. The light turned green and she made a swift right turn and continued down the street. Finally his apartment building was in view and she quickly pulled into the parking lot. Taking a deep sigh, she flung the door open and jumped out of the car. She walked slowly down the stairs, taking extra precaution not to take a stumble as she was in no condition to be walking; her heart skipping a beat with every step.

Finally his apartment door was in front of her and without hesitation, she knocked. His voice responded quickly but she wasn’t sure what he said, a comfortable relief came over her heart; her mind trying to catch up, now that she was certain he was home. The door opened and with a stunned expression and then a smile, he rapidly shut the door. “One second,” He said. She was completely distracted with the uncertainty of what would happen next. He obviously had just woken up with a sleepy look on his face, his brown hair reaching in all directions; all she desired to do was hold him. She pondered what thoughts were bolting through his mind.

Promptly the door opened again and he came outside. Time stopped her and immediately she realized that this was going to be much more difficult than she was prepared for. She gave up trying to hide the expression of her love that must have been beaming from her face while looking him in the eyes. Words from her heart came out and with a loving, slightly upset and questioning tone she said, “You couldn’t possibly leave without letting me say goodbye.” He invited her in and the door closed behind them.

After a while, the night sky came and it was time for the final farewell. The stars shined brightly in the sky above as she held him in her arms and didn’t want to let go. In that moment, she felt the most joy that the embrace was returned. After leaving, returning and leaving again, she drove away and waived in an ocean of tears and sorrow. She reached the freeway entrance and heading in the direction of her home, she felt as though she was leaving a piece of her soul.
As she drove down the freeway, her spirit wailing a cry that she had never heard or imagined. The sound resembled the expression of the death of a closest loved one. Trying to see through an ocean in her pain, she cried out to God for death. She gave up all control of the wheel and as an angel or God himself drove her car forty-five minutes; she finally arrived home safely, drowning in her tears. As she opened the car door with strength not her own, she dragged herself to the front door of her home.
The young woman crawled into her bed, cried out to God, and was surprised she had any tears left at all. She began to see visions and finally understood how big was the love of God and why Jesus died on the cross. At this point, she was willing to lay her life down for God and finally knew what it meant. Hours later she realized that she had just experienced the most painful and wonderful thing; the true love of God. As the young woman was branded with a new love on her heart, she pictured the only man she ever truly loved; as she smiled from her heart, a thank you and farewell.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

The Girl and Her Lover

It was a bitter cold night, the kind of night that steals your very breath away. The girl pictured herself strolling along the ocean with the roasting sand sifting between her toes. As she carried herself beside the shore, the waves began to crash against her feet. The sun escaped quickly below the clouds as the light threw back colors in the sky. She closed her eyes and grabbed hold of what was left of the warmth that was scurrying from her. The darkness swallowed the sky and the stars came swiftly to the rescue. She could hear her lover calling for her and she became completely lovesick.

The girl noticed a beautiful flame a distance away and longed for its warmth. She headed in that direction and could hardly lift her feet as she carried a yoke of emptiness and sorrow on her shoulders. She began to grieve and was taken aback that she had any tears left at all. Dropping to her knees, she understood that she was isolated, shivering, and had nothing left. With no courage to put down the yoke, she struggled to her feet and continued walking towards the flame. Each step became more difficult as she pulled her feet from the sand.

The flame held her eyes in place as she encountered a stirring inside of her. The beads of salt poured down her face and vanished into the darkness. The weariness clothed her and was present all over her face. She struggled to collect herself as she drew closer. The single flame transformed into a consuming fire. She savored the heat and at last entered into its presence. She released the yoke into the fire and fell to her knees. She took a deep breath and sighed with relief. As she felt the fire burning, the heat dried up her tears. She closed her eyes and fell asleep in the warmth of her lover’s arms.