Garden

Sounds of all sorts entered her newly-formed consciousness. Awareness of light seeping slowly past her closed eyes.  Breathe, in and out.  Listen, feel. Opening eyes slowly, seeing colors and shades.   Soft breeze carrying scents of…flowering things.  A tickle across her face makes her smile.  She thought it was her tangled, curly hair, but discovered it was a butterfly, stopping to rest its new wings by stepping delicately across her new face.

She turns her head cautiously, allowing the next breeze to lift the butterfly into flight once again.  She raises one hand to encourage its journey, waving farewell.

Her eyes slowly take in more colors and shapes around her.  Growing things; trees, plants; water, flowing from mountains unseen into rivers; like the one she rests beside.  Moving things in and on the water.  Fish and frogs; leaping and diving to swim.  Birds of all colors, shapes and sizes. Huge ones standing on long, stately legs as thin as her smallest fingers.  Tiny birds, with wings beating so quickly, she almost did not believe that they were really there.  Feathers like flowers and the shimmers she could see in the mists churned up as the river leapt across the rocky places; or the muted colors of the rocks and sands she had yet to see. 

She sits up slowly, allowing her mind to hear the naming of things.  Grass, sky, ants, fruits and vegetables; an amazing array of things spread out before her, as far as her eyes could see.  Oh! The variations of color exploding before her eyes were almost too much to take in.   Almost as if these things came into existence, just because her eyes moved to that space.

Animals..um, cats!  Many different kinds of cats.  Small, fluffy things that are softer than anything she could imagine.  These were huge, tawny ones right across the river.   They were majestic and solid; drinking deeply from the water. Looking at her and watching for other movement around them.  Appearing completely relaxed and yet alert at the same time.

Other creatures approached the river cautiously, aware of the incredible power resting in these…lions. Their obvious strength and subdued ferocity demanded careful planning by the other animals wishing to share this tranquil, fruitful place.

Slowly she stood, arms spread to balance herself as she adjusted to the strange feeling of standing fully upright.  She frowned briefly, wondering why and how these thoughts came to her. 

Suddenly, she knew.  “The Creator!”  She smiled feeling the joy of knowing that The Creator of All was pouring thoughts and knowledge into her mind.  Telling her that she had a mind, and body.  Allowing her to identify everything she saw.  Letting her know colors and sounds and what she touched and what scents drifted to her in the breeze.

Laughing, she startled some birds nearby, causing them to leap from the tree branches and dart away into the sky.  The branches were shaking, leaves fluttering and snapping loudly.  Then she realized that the noise was coming from somewhere else.

An upright figure was heading towards her, running through the brush and overhanging branches.  She tilted her head, waiting for her thoughts to name whatever it was.  These thoughts were not clear, like most of the others were.  Words tumbled around; confusing her and making her heart beat quickly in anticipation.

Suddenly, he was there.  Panting a bit, he stood with his hands reaching out, almost as if he was going to take her in his muscled arms.

They stood silently looking at one another, noting the similarities and differences.  Somehow knowing that they were meant to be together.

He, the man took her, the woman by the hand. Smiling at one another, they walked together, each waiting for the other to speak.

Written by Lynda Kinnard