The unmistakable sound of keys being placed on the counter.

The type of surface you may wonder?

For the sake of imagination I'll choose solid, but soft wood. This way the sound you're imagining is recognizable but still soft on the ears of the imagination.

So, after my pontification over the sound of keys we arrive back to the opening line.

The unmistakable sound of keys being placed on the counter. The amount of keys would, all things equal, indicate responsibility. The more keys, the more obligations.

An aroma of soul soothing eucalyptus can be recognized upon a deep inhale. The choice of scent? An indication of someone who wishes to relax, rejuvenate, retreat or any of these refreshing "r" words. If you do not like the scent of eucalyptus then I apologize as it would be none of those refreshing "r" words to you.

The satisfying feeling of a persona being shed as clothes are peeled off and thrown onto the cool, tile floor!

Cold feet seeking warmth walk only on the palms of the feet to the floor towel (is that what those things are called?)

Small, red, painted toenails are emphasized as the toes they belong to curl tightly, enjoying the softness of the new, inviting, surface beneath them.

Green eyes. Dark green with flecks of yellow and brown close and open. A dimple following a smile emerges on the right cheek as these green eyes crinkle into a full face smile.

"Hello". A full, rich, but young sounding voice reverberates creating a chorus that's bounding off of the bathroom walls.

A small, but undeniable gap in the two front teeth is now proudly visible between faintly red lips.

Soft, straight, sweet smelling hair sweeps over broad shoulders only to be swept up and put into a bun. For the purpose of the task at hand, hair is just an obstacle. (That was a double entendre - am I referring to the task I as a writer am performing or the task this dark green eyed, sweet smelling hair, gap tooth, Full face smile being is about to perform?)

Strong, fair hands grip the faucet handle. A squeak caused by a quick pull and sharp turn. One foot tentatively tests the temperature of the water and is quickly followed by a sore, muscular calf, a thick and more soft thigh then an entire body. You don't need to know anything about this stranger to know the feelings that follow.

Contentment. Peace. Warmth. Safety.

Steam awakens thoughts.

Teeth bite firmly. A bottom lip becomes curled, red and then numb. The outside world permeates the shower. Anxiety knocks like a guest on the bathroom door. Dark green eyes close, seeking calm in the confines of the mind that lies behind them.

Can you see her? Standing there?

Can you see her?

You don't know her, but you've recognized these documented steps. You know these sounds and feelings, smells and experiences maybe you can kindof imagine this person?

You know the feeling of water rushing over your skin cleansing your body of the outside world, but do you ever yearn that this painfully hot water would cleanse your soul?

You know how it feels to bite your lip, but do you know how it feels to pick at the skin there and break it, letting

it heal and then breaking it again? The taste of blood on your tongue and the inevitable regret of giving yourself chapped lips?

Skin, not just colored by the sun but by scars, bruises and blushing, by scattered beauty marks only explorers get to discover. Does your skin itch when you lay in the grass? Do you get goosebumps easily and love to watch every hair rise?

You know the benefits of steam on a heavy head but do you understand the weight of a heavy mind and heart? Or the sheer relief found when one can release stress in this steamy isolation?

What would you say if you were looking into those green eyes?

What would you see?

Stranger, what do you see?

Courage, experience, strength, weakness, kindness, and love?

Ha! No. They are eyes.

You see that which you choose to see.

So, since I am writing you will see what I write you to see.

You'll see the green but you'll also see the purple bags lying just beneath. You'll see joy, but also such great sorrow. You'll see a scar just on the inside of the arch where the nose meets the left eye. You'll see wrinkles of curiosity and laughter.

You'll see a human, very much alive, looking right back at you with unwavering eye contact.

I could have written about anybody outside of my four walls.

They, are all strangers to me.

I, however, am a stranger to you.

My strength as a writer lies in writing what I feel is the truth, being authentic and using nice words that make people feel nice things.

Now, I hope I am not such a stranger to you.

Hello.

paint stains on carpet

coffee rings on table

emotions on tuesdays

pizza on sundays

tired eyes

a most brave smile

Today is new,

Entirely its own!

Use this day to be

the very best you,

that only you can be.

Shine, Empower,

Love, and Inspire.

You deserve it after all,

you're the only you

that only you can be.

E felt everything to the deepest depths possible.

L thought about everything as thoroughly and reasonably as possible.

E couldn't possibly imagine a world that wasn't dripping in colors.

L couldn't possibly comprehend the purpose of colors.

The two of them were distinctly different, that much is clear to all of us. 

L joined others just as logical.

E joined others just as emotional.

L came to a conclusion.

E experienced a revelation.

Neither had grown. Perhaps, a balance could be obtained?

Together?

They clashed and blended into a most beautiful mess of chaos. They debated, shared, pontificated, experienced, compromised, learned and grew.

Together.

They thrived.

You take my hand,

"We're going on an adventure."

I don't know you yet,

But I so dearly want to.

I tell you this,

Cautiously and clearly.

You smile and sweetly say

"That's a part of our adventure."

You begin to hum

A melody so sweet,

Yet strangely familiar

Though it is indeed

New to me,

When your voice stops,

My own begins,

And in this manner we carry on.

Wander and ponder,

Debate and discuss,

Learn and teach,

Discover and uncover,

Tear down and rebuild,

Pontificate and elaborate,

We love,

We live.

Our path to this point

Has been filled with wonder,

Disagreement, compromise,

Openness and blunder.

This point we are at

Is after the beginning,

But before the end,

It is the present in a gift.

Our prelude has been sung

Through the striking of these keys

But our melody still has a way to go

Until we reach our finale.

So your hand in mine

Our hearts set the beat

Our words are the parts

Moving together in harmony.

Our adventure has become

My hearts most favorite song

That plays only in my soul

Singing to my mind.

You cherish my hand,

So gently in yours,

You kiss it and smile,

I see in your eyes

Your hopes and dreams,

Beautifully swimming in pools of blue.

You tell me of places,

Scenes and many such things.

"We are going on an adventure",

You say through your smile.

You tug me along,

So forward I move,

Just a half step behind you,

But a whole step in love.

My smile shines brighter

Just as the sun does too,

For the adventure my dear,

Is simply being with you.

Come.

Closer,

Here with me,

Let yourself cry,

Fall into my arms.

Let it all go for now.

You deserve to be loved, love,

So loved you shall be, by me, sweet.

I know being strong can't be easy,

I am strong for you in moments like these.

Lean in close, I will only tell you true

Some days hurt more, some people care less

Don't you mind it, don't mind at all!

Cry, scream, retreat, give up hope,

When you come back you'll see

I'm still here, tight armed,

Holding you close.

Face your fears

Let them

Go.

Breathe.

Find you

In yourself

Find you, love you.

Maybe I don't see

Maybe I can't feel it

One thing I do know though is

Life and love can hurt just the same

As they can heal, mend, elate and bless

So find value therein, find it within

Remind yourself each day if you need to

You are worth more than scars or bruises,

Than empty lies you tell yourself

More than your pain or sorrow,

These are just parts of one

Beautiful soul

You just need you

To make you

Yourself

Whole.

Expectations, obligations, needs, wants and necessities.

Piling up day to day, hour by hour, minute to the very last second.

In my mind, in my life, they seem to pile to the sky!

Until one day to the top I will climb till I am sitting in that sky.

As all things though we must come down,

Down crumbles the pile and down turns my smile.

As I am falling realization hits me before the ground does,

These types of things cannot be ignored.

So one by one when I hit the ground I pick them up,

Dust them and fulfill them all.

Slowly but surely my load gets lighter,

The sun comes out to make things brighter.

I take a break, laying down in the grass.

I look at the sky, blue, sun, trees, birds and all of such things.

For time must be wasted at least every once in awhile.

Once I am rested back I return.

Complete and ready to tackle my pile that's still growing steady.

Expectations, obligations, needs, wants and necessities.

What really matters? What is it I need?

To those questions I must say, I truly am not entirely sure.

What I do know is that nothing in this life is worth more than my time and how I choose to spend it. So spend it I will in the ways I see fit!

Back down in the grass I lay for a spell,for as they say, the roses I must smell.

Though I be but temporary, I am a temporary part of infinity.

I am.

Leaves rustling, crunching, floating.

Stems growing, stretching, thriving.

Worms eating, digging, squirming.

Ants building, creating, moving.

Shrooms decomposing, renewing, dispersing.

I am the grass reaching higher and higher.

I am.

Sun warming, waking, setting.

Waves crashing, pulling, wearing.

Streams rushing, taking, giving.

Moon rising, glowing, waning.

I am the stars twinkling boldly and brightly.

I am.

Birds flying, chirping odes.

Lakes thawing, changing form.

Flowers blooming, colorful aromas.

I am the fields swaying, radiant gold.

A world spinning interminably.

A universe vastly undiscovered.

Though I be but temporary, I am a temporary part of infinity.

“I AM,” I long to scream into that void. I imagine my voice echoing back to me as a sign that I am contained. But no, I scream it with every ounce of passion I can muster and it’s just sucked into the vacuum that is our galaxy.

“I EXIST!” I shout to not other soul but my own.

Day becoming night. Night becoming day.

So many times that the two become one.

Each moment welcomes new life.

Each moment in turn honors life lost.

Life begins, thrives, and ends.

Though I be but temporary, I am a temporary part of infinity.

All of this happening in an unplanned synchronization composing the most spectacular fugue ever will there be.

I am but the shell of a wandering soul.

I live and so I am life.

Though I be but temporary, I am a temporary part of infinity.

I am.

the glass is sweating. Beads of water make their descent to the table below. If I were to be level with the table I'd guess it'd be a sight to behold. So, I lower my cheek to rest on the  table.

I follow an imaginary lane to the glass of lemonade. Surely enough, a mote of water has formed itself around the lemonade to protect the deliciously sweet substance - really though it's just damage to the table.

I reset to the moment by sitting up. The clock on my wrist is telling me two things - the time, and that I'm currently on time. I check my phone - nothing. This isn't too abnormal for 5:04 AM but still I check.

I stand up - flexing my sore legs - more stress means more running. Unfortunately for my quads and calves, yesterday was a fiercely stressful day. I brush my long hair into a ponytail.

Ice cubes clink as I fill my stainless steel cup with equal parts ice, chai latte and coconut milk. Lid on - I shake it all together - open - I take a slow, full sip. This taste is a reliable one. Clean, diverse, delicious and soon it will be energy. I grab my work bag and walk out of the door.

The beginning of my hour on the road is a slow one to say the least. Traffic hasn't begun yet but I still don't want to endure this day. I know what it is to come; phone calls, problems, emails, frustration, solutions, exhaustion, maybe some food here, water, coffee, phone calls problems, emails and so on.

I look at the signs as I pass my various checkpoints. I know the exit coming next - the city park.

Impulse grips the steering wheel in the stead of my hands, confidence exudes from me as I flip to signal my intention to cross towards the right. I maneuver through and make the exit. Decision settled.

---

I watch a father and daughter point at the fish in the pond and talk about them. I can't hear the explanations going on but I don't need to.

Sitting here on this bench, time has stopped. My chai long gone,  only my thoughts and this place entertain me - this reality is the one I choose.

I know my "other" reality will resume itself just as soon as I take my buzzing phone out of my purse but, I don't care, so I leave it in there.

But then - I do? I take my phone out and make the one phone call I never mind making.

------

"Hey?" A sleepy voice that is heavily questioning why it was woken up at 7:17 AM. answers, filling my ear.

"If I drop a pin of where I am, will you come?" I use as much care as I can and balance it with some persuasion.

"Well, I have to work." I knew this answer was coming - unsatisfactory.I know what to do. This is a dance, and I have the shoes.

"If I drop a pin, WILL you come?" There's a longer pause, I can tell thinking is happening, a little confusion but mostly curiosity.

"Um, I mean, I guess so?" A small smile replaces my once solemn expression with this victory. With this ally I now feel I can ride my wave of spontaneity.

"Come prepared." I respond calmly. Already I can tell that could mean any number of things but it's a test that I hope will be passed. It's not something I have ever asked for.

"Okay."

---

I cough, it burns, I try my hardest to inhale and hold. I hear gentle laughter to my left.

"It's the good stuff" he says, with a smile that spreads to his bright, open eyes.

"I guess so, I wouldn't know better anyway so I'll take your word for it." He considers this and maybe something else too then waits for me to continue. I choose not to, letting the crunch of gravel under our shoes lead the moment.

The sun is out and we have a source of warmth and light to share between only us. We walk beside eachother, enjoying the company. Almost as if he is intentionally breaking the silence,

"You know my question so it doesn't quite seem worth saying, but, why?"

"I got up this morning and knew." I pause, a squirrel has distracted us both briefly from the path forward. "I just knew that the day I'd have at work wouldn't be meaningful. The only thing I was going to enjoy from the point of getting up to driving home nine hours later was that I indulged in lemonade for breakfast," I pause, this sounds crazy. Somehow though, in the moment, in the car, it seemed the most logical. How is that, "that can't be it. I know there is more! I have to go back to work tomorrow, sure, but what if this day is just for me?" He nods in understanding as I'd hoped he would.

"But this," he holds up the joint and gestures to the public park around us,"this isn't you." He takes a quick hit and then exhales intentionally. I watch his lips. He knows that I am watching, it's part of the experience.

"I know, but I figured since I was already skipping out on work why not really indulge?" He laughs now - and - its highly contagious.

Whether its the high or our usual banter I don't care. He catches my eyes and laughs harder in confirmation as he passes me the joint.

It feels good to walk here. The world is only what I choose to perceive.This morning will go on for years as I remember, misremember, reflect and look back upon it.

I weave my hands into his, something we have done so many times before. This time it's new though, the context has changed the both of us.

I look at him and smile. He's been watching me work my way to this resolution.

"Take me home, please?"

- honesty

- comfy - too big - sweaters

- people who are shy until you find that one thing that causes their eyes to light up!

- joy

- rain; thought to elaborate but, rain.

- finishing work before I've had time to check the time

- toe curling pleasure

- socks; thought to elaborate but, SOCKS

- sincerity

- well written music

- Kisses

- EXTRA large mugs - the larger the better ;)

- People who ENJOY food.

- paint - could also read "making beautiful messes" but, paint.

- animals

- insects, bugs, arachnids and all such creatures really except for scorpions

- realizing that the two points before this could've just been "life" and then leaving them because I'm feisty.

- genuine hugs

- orgasmically amazing pens. I KNOW you concur.

- Prose

- freshly cleaned, new sheets

- people who smile back sincerely as you pass them by

- you, dear reader

- books and everything that they encompass

- books that have been previously owned

- blueberries, freshly rinsed. Actually, any fruit freshly rinsed.

- big people, little people, all people

I have found that love is not hard to find.

Try it. @Mel - tag, you're it.

(Not trying to put you on the spot but you're amazing and that's my only defense)

If you've read this and it brought a smile, a thought of a smile or even a faint memory of what it is like to smile, I urge you to make a list like this of your own in whatever format, style or length is natural to you. Tag me!