Visions

The west sky was a myriad of colors. The chirping of the birds had almost stopped. The sight in front of her never ceased to amaze her. This was the most beautiful place in the world. She came here every evening, since that fateful day. She was at peace with herself and the world here. This was one place she could be herself – she could cry, she could laugh, she could complain, she could live. This place was a paradox for her. A writer, she always found herself at a loss of words when she was here. It was instinct here, pure emotions. The sky had turned completely dark. It was time for her to leave.

That day was different. She felt restless. She wanted to get out of the madness. She wanted to reach her haven. Finally, when she could bear it no longer, she walked out of her office. It was a small town. People, faces had become familiar to her. She had stopped looking at faces long ago. She walked at a brisk pace. She didnt know why she felt she had to be there. She walked briskly. The roads soon turned into unpaved paths and then into unsed trails. She felt safe. She reached the cliff. She immediately felt something was wrong. Then she saw him. A solitary figure. In perfect balance. Right at the edge of the cliff. She could see that he wasnt looking down. He was looking straight ahead, at the sunset.

Her muscles tightened. She sensed an inevitable. She wanted to scream. Her voice failed her. Then he turned. She had never seen someone so beautiful before. Every inch in him screamed perfection. He seemed oblivious of her presence. She suddenly felt his presence in him. It was like she was slapped. She felt unworthy of him. She looked into his eyes. His gaze turned towards her. The expression on his face remained unchanged. She realized he had seen the sunset the same way. He walked away from the cliff and on to a boulder. His eyes never left her. She walked down to her usual place and sat down. She could not look upto his eyes. But she knew he was looking at her. She felt his presence. Then she felt the life drain out of her. She turned towards him. He was walking away.

She started coming earlier. She liked waiting for him. The sound of twigs breaking, leaves rustling and then his head ans shoulders emerging through the foliage. His gaze never left her. He never looked at the sunset. She never looked at him. But she always felt his presence. Everyday, they sat there for hours – he, on a boulder. She, opposite to him. They never spoke. They hadnt spoken a single word since they met. But the past few days had been the happiest in her life. The wait sometimes unbearable. The minutes always stretching longer in her office. Waiting to be with him again. But she was happy. Her eyes were alive. Her lips etched in a smile. Her gloomy office never felt so much lighter. She always looked at the boulder, after he left. Finally, she would tear herself away from there.

That day was different. She felt restless. She wanted to see him. She could no longer sit in her office. She reached the cliff a lot earlier than usual. She was surprised to see him there. He was the way she had seen him first. His back to her. Right at the edge of the cliff. He was looking at the sunset. She wanted him to turn. She wanted to see his beautiful face. She sensed something was wrong. Her muscles tightened. She sensed an inevitable. She wanted to scream. Her voice failed her. Then he jumped.