~Play of Light~

                                Play of light
     A smattering of sunlight pushes its way forward and forces through tiny breaks in the
clouds of the overcastted sky. The rays of light play along the lines of my face as the cold autumn
wind tugs my hair free from its ribbon. I blow bubbles, dipping the wand as if a faerie princess and
blowing bubbles. I watch them float away from me on the wind, the play of light brings them a life
all their own. I watch them float away. I watch them fade, grow dark and die. I move to continue
my conversation with the Grand Lady of the Ledge.

       As I turn to talk to the Statue on the ledge beside me I realize that the Statue seemed far
kinder than people generally are. She�s understanding.

�Why can�t I talk to anyone but you?� I questioned.

     The gentle eyes of the Statue never changed yet continued to watch me in an unnerving
fashion. Looking down at the Lady�s outstretched hand I grasp it within my own, wishing and
seeking the warmth of a human touch. The cold stone in my hand draws tears to my eyes.

     I wonder aloud, �Why must I always be alone?� The air swirls by, once more around me
and the smell of fall decay sickens me. �I�m sorry I have to leave� I apologize as I pick up my pen
and paper and write the last line of the letter. I write aloud, �Why can�t anyone understand that I
just want to live in a world of beauty?� I roll the letter up and tie a dark scarlet ribbon to keep it
that way and place it into the Statue�s hand, �Good bye, my friend, sadly you were the only
comfort I ever had.�

      With this I take my bouquet of flowers in my hand their colours a sharp contrast to that of
their present environment. With one final look at my dear and only friend I let the world go. As I
lean forward I can no longer see the death and decay of the fall afternoon, I see the fullness of
spring bursting with life. I can�t wait that long, however; I can�t live through an other winter.
The corset hinders the deep breath I attempt to make. I feel my feet as they leave the
ledge. As I start to fall, fear comes back from his stroll and the full force of what I�m doing hits
me. The wind tearing at my ivory dress, causing it to snap like so many flags of fight. �I�ll see no
more fighting now.�

     The cold air brings tears to my eyes, they blur my vision and I can no longer see. I crush
the flowers in my hand, my fall into life is still in form and there is no longer anything that can
avert me from my elected path. I feel the frail branches of the trees. They rip at my dress, tear into
my outstretched arms and scratch my face. My own salty tears causing the scratches on my face
to burn. I open my eyes and see a bed of orange and gold. Then there is an absence of everything.

      I open my eyes only to see my blood stained hands before my face. My nails ripped and
ragged. I look up into the face of my dear friend and unfurl my hands from her stone robes. I
touch my bloodied hands to her face. With a lopsided grin I confess to her, �I always wanted a
dream of mine to come true.� Without an other second�s pause I place my letter in my Lady�s
hand. I kiss her cheek and whisper into her ear. I stand at the very edge, flowers in hand, I look
out into the sky. Seeing a bubble floating innocently by, the play of light now mocking me, I lean
forward and a dream of mine takes its path to fruition.

     The wind stirs and the letter in the hand of the outstretched statue makes the less than the
graceful descent of mine looks like child�s play. It lands next to my hand and unrolls. It lies over
my flower stained hand. The childish scrawl of the letter that no one would ever read blows away
from me as the wind gently tries to soothe my unborn cry of despair.