Sunshine

I shuffle slowly though the fluffy snow, sighing when my overused boots start to become wet. My coat isn’t quiet thick enough and the brittle air seeps through, leaving me shivering and dejected.

A bird somewhere overhead lets out a sorrowful trill. I can’t help but feel that perhaps today is just one of those dreary days where everyone feels slightly depressed and nothing can make you feel better.

Even the sky is a mute gray, filled with slowly moving clouds. Not a ray of sunlight peeps through anywhere as far as I can tell. It seems as if the world is determined to make me feel lonely.

I continue to shuffle along the cold field, wishing my house were a bit closer to the town, when I notice a figure standing a few feet ahead of me. She has her hands held out in front of her as if holding something, but I don’t see anything in her palms.

I inch forward, trying to see what she is doing, when suddenly, the clouds break open slightly and a single ray of sunshine shines down, directly into the hands of the girl ahead.

My breath catches as I take in the scene before me. Somehow the girl knew the sun was going to break through in that exact spot and she nows has her hands cupped around the sunlight as if she is holding it in her hands.

She breaks into a brilliant smile and I let my breath out, my heart pounding suddenly. She hears my little gasp and turns, hands coming down to her sides when she sees me. Though she seems surprised, her smile never falters.

“Hello,” she whispers across the space between us. The sun now shines onto her auburn hair, turning it a bright red color.

I can’t seem to let out a single word, but she doesn’t seem to mind and only giggles.

“That must have seemed strange, huh?” she says when she has stopped laughing. “I noticed the clouds where moving and thought the sun might come through for a moment, so I thought I would see if I could ‘catch’ it.”

I only stand still, the cold forgotten as I stare at this pretty girl. She laughs again.

“I just recently moved here, if that’s why you are so shocked. I haven’t had time to meet any neighbors. We can walk home if you like?”

I nod and she comes closer. We walk back to our small neighborhood together, her talking about anything and everything under the sun and me listening in quiet awe of this walking ray of sunshine.

Though the world seemed bleak and grey just a while ago, my house too far and the snow too cold, I suddenly don’t mind the distance or the chill that causes her to inch closer. I feel unexpectedly happy, as if the world is once more bright and maybe things will be okay if this person just stays close to me like this.