The Dove

4:30 PM

The train ride is an hour ride from my house to my office, its not so bad. I can read or people watch but mostly I get lost in my own head. Every little thing reminds me of her. From the soft songs filling my ears to the simple color of yellow. Its been almost three years since she died I mean. I don’t do much, I don’t have a ton of friends and no family. My life is pretty depressing.

5:35 PM

Getting off the train I start the fifteen-minute walk to my house. Its quiet, peaceful, rainy. The way I like it.

After a while I began to hear chirps, I thought nothing of it at first but then I got curious as to what the noise was and made my way down the ravine.

A tiny white bird was lying there wet and distraught. I took my jacket off and approached. I stooped down and gently picked the fragile thing up, continuing my walk. The dove reminded me of something but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

6:00 PM

When I got home I dug up an old shoebox, cut holes in it and put the dove inside, leaving the box under a heating lamp I used to use for my lizards. I stepped back admiring my handy work.

“There,” I said and preceded to get ready for bed.

4:00 AM

I sat up breathing heavily, I heard thunder which didn’t help my post-nightmare. I leaned over for my phone and tapped the first contact.

“Hello?” I heard.

“Hey, I’m sorry I’m calling so late its just-” I whispered.

“Did you have another nightmare?” he asked and I sighed saying a small “Yes”

“I’m on the way,” he said before I could object.

I waited a while but finally, I heard a knock at my door. I got up and opened it to see my sympathetic best friend holding two cups of coffee. I smiled and let him in.

5:00 AM

“So you wanna tell me what it was about?” he said

“It was just the same dream, the car accident, etc,” I said back.

“ Evan… you got to heal, you need to move on this is... This is messing you up.” He said making me angry.

“Don't you think I've tried?” I yelled with tears pooling up.

“I know you've tried but you always reverted back, come live with me, you can go back to college and-”

“I can't just forget her Charlie, shes everywhere. When I wake up when I'm walking or on the train, shes spelled out in the pages of the damn books! I can't do this anymore!”

“Yes you can, I'm going to help you,” he said and before I could say anything else there was loud chirping.

“What is that?” Charlie asked. I sniffed and wiped my tears as I got up and walked to the faded shoe box.

“Hey, you're awake,” I said to the bird as I gently opened the box to take a peak. I looked outside to notice it wasn't raining anymore and the sun was coming up.

“Come on we are gonna go let this little guy go,” I said grabbing my coat.

6:40 AM

Standing on top of the hill I opened the box and gently picked the bird up with two hands.

“Okay,” I said looking at him.

“Okay what?” he asked

“I wanna move on, I wanna let go. Not forget... but let go of the pain.” I said and he smiled. We both looked down at the tiny bird and I realized how much it reminded me of her. I smiled more and opened my hands letting the graceful being slip out and fly away with a final chirp as a goodbye, and thank you.

I turned back around and pulled Evan into a hug whispering a small thankyou back. Its time to let go.

And behind them, as they embraced, a small white dove feather falls slowly on the ground reminding them that love is everywhere. It may not be an easy process but there is always a way to heal.