Someone To Love-Part 1

Book in hand, I strode the path in awesome Autumn splendor. The warmth of the sun caressing my cheek, while the cool breeze gently tickled goose bumps across my warm skin. All around me the crepe paper litter piled brilliance beneath each shedding tree as if competing to see who's leaves could out shine all of the others. Piled yellow pillows gently fluttered at the base of the Sweet Gum, as the reaching arms of the Red Oak spread an even layer of scarlet across its enormous shadow. I chose the sunny side of a flaming Sugar Maple as my place of morning respite with intent to finish the last pages of my novel. Only a few painted leaves left strokes of color on the green grassy canvas beneath this wondrous tree. As if it knew that the sleep of winter would soon leave the world cold and bare and so very alone, it chose to dance a final dance clutching tightly to each leaf creating a crown of fire that burned radiance against each gasp of the cool northern wind. I watched the occasional passerby stroll down the path, some, small families with noisy playful little ones, playing in the leaves kicking them into the air and laughing, the occasional jogger, and the loaners, like me. They walked by slowly, head hung low, only occasionally glancing from side to side to take in their beauteous surroundings. Soon I was lost in my book, a tale of fantasy and magic and love. For a time my world seemed to disappear into the paragraphs and between the stiff new pages. Then as I turned to the final page, a gentle touch I felt upon my shoulder, my attention redirected, I looked and there lying on my jacket was, perhaps, the most beautiful leaf I have ever seen. Perfect in shape with blushing crimson center blending gently into golden fingers with a striking deep scarlet lip, it seemed a lovely offering from my silent host. I lifted it gently and slowly twirled it between my fingers amazed at its flawlessness. "What a beautiful leaf," a voice broke my reverie. Glancing up, before me I beheld an astounding vision, perfect in shape with blushing crimson cheeks blending gently into breeze fingered golden hair with striking deep scarlet lips. "You should press it," she said. The sun shining directly behind her created an aura that reminded me of an old master's painting. A scene filled with heavenly creatures glowing against the darkness of the world's pain and suffering, Velaquez, perhaps, or El Greco. She was my vision of an angel. "You should press it in your book," she started again. "That way you can keep it forever as a reminder of such an exceptionally wonderful day." She raised her hands and looked around her. "Oh, yes I think I will. Thank you." She smiled and a brief silence ensued, "Well, I'll leave you to your book," she said as she turned to walk away. Not wanting the moment to end, I fumbled for something to say. "Oh, I just finished," I lied, "it. The book, I mean." She glanced back giggling but continued walking. I quickly rose to my feet and inquired in which direction she was going. She pointed, "Ah, the same way I'm headed," again not being totally honest. "May I accompany you?" She nodded, and we walked, the forgotten leaf still in my hand. After talking for a while she reached for my book. I asked if she had read it and she replied no. Then she opened it to a blank page and taking the leaf from me she placed it carefully between the sheets and closed it tightly. "A memory," she whispered as she handed the book back and took my arm. What a long, but elated stroll I had home that evening. Like a train that is slow to leave the platform, days crawled into weeks, weeks into months until we found ourselves deep into winter. She, reluctant to let her feelings show, kept me at arms length, me unashamedly falling head over heals for her. Her overly protective friends were cold and distant. Each night we spent our time together, laughing and dancing, until dawn found her breathing softly, asleep in the warmth of my arms where she would awaken, all smiles and sass. cont... 09/22/2018