THE SUN
by Candy Bolin
You began like the morning comes and my world slowly awoke in anticipation of your arrival. Your hues and shades splashed across the hills coloring a new day, a new beginning. You burst into the world bringing your light and warmth to fill the placid skies. The birds all sang a jubilant song of thankfulness for your presence. All through the day you warmed the earth. Your resplendent rays were life giving, your brilliance too intense for the mere human eye to behold. My face turned toward your radiance and I felt you upon my skin. I breathed you in and felt blessed as you chased the chill from my heart. I basked in the glory of you. Laughing merrily, I skipped through the hours. You were in my sky and all the world was right.
Then the air around me became suddenly still. A strange calm surrounded me that caused a moment of apprehension. The birds began to twitter restlessly and seek shelter among the trees. A lazy frog croaked a question at their haste. A chill set in. Dusk was coming. It had snuck up on us like a snake in the grass. I looked to you and saw that you were fading away. Off in the distance you sank beyond the horizon, illuminating the evening sky in a soft glow. Then color like none I had ever seen filled the sky and took my breath away as you dipped down, out of sight. I watched helplessly. All around me shadows formed, taunting, filling me with fear of the unknown. Darkness fell, and I was alone. Tears cascaded from my eyes; cold upon my cheeks where you had been so warm. I sat defeated. Certain I would never breathe again.
Just then something caught my eye. It was a star far away in the darkened night sky. It danced and shimmered, beckoning my attention. I began to feel the doubt slip from my heart, as hope took its place. It was as if the star spoke to me, words of wisdom to a tattered soul. �Fear not, and stop your grieving, for although you do not see your sun he is there, just on the other side, shining his magnificent light on another place and other faces. But someday you will see him again. And though the night seems dark and lonely and you are afraid, have faith, for surely the sun will rise again.�
My heart leapt with delight! Oh the joyous day will come when I can drink in your splendor once more. And from that day on I shall be at your side and journey with you to the horizon and beyond. I have learned that just as the sun�s light never fades or dies, one�s life never truly ends. For that miracle of watercolor that paints the sky at sunset on this horizon, is at the same time the dawning of a glorious new day on another.