The look on my son's face told me what I needed to know. He saw something in that quick glance of the graceful deer who stopped in front of us for a moment. His eyes brightened and a soft smile lit up his face. My little boy had a rough, emotional week. We weren't sure why he was upset. All we do know now is that a quick encounter with a beautiful deer seemed to bring back the wonder to our little boy. Off she sprang into the brush without noticing that a little boy waved goodbye.
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The look on my son's face told me what I needed to know. He saw something in that quick glance of the graceful deer who stopped in front of us for a moment. His eyes brightened and a soft smile lit up his face. My little boy had a rough, emotional week. We weren't sure why he was upset. All we do know now is that a quick encounter with a beautiful deer seemed to bring back the wonder to our little boy. Off she sprang into the brush without noticing that a little boy waved goodbye.
The deer froze at the sound of leaves crunching under foot in the distance. He locked eyes with mine and I could feel the intesity of his fear and my heart beat fast at his burning gaze. He stood just long enough for me to snap his photo, and then he sprinted off into the woods. I was elated. For a second, I had connected with this beautiful deer and we understood each other.
The wind was softly whispering to her as she gently stepped foot through the stones. Resting for a moment, she listened attentively to hear the message being told. "Run, purity, run; whisp away quickly, never to return here."
Reasoning fell from her thoughts, obedience became her and she ran away.
As she ran in the timing of the wind, she sensed the familiarity of cause from where she came and the sound startled her.
She bowed with a grateful heart to the whisper in the wind.
The day was overcast in shadows. I trudged through the fallen leaves, listening to them rustle beneath my feet, my eyes followed them. No need to look up, I'd followed this route so many times before. Flowers in hand, I approached the cold hard square of stone. I ran my fingers of the etched lettering. The cold hard surface seemed to be a reflection of the surface of my heart.
It was a weekly thing, visiting his grave. My life revolved around these little trips down the road to his place. It had become my place too. My world had compressed down into a tunnel of vision that led from my house to this very spot. It was like the rest of the world didn't exist anymore. I never looked up.
Then suddenly I heard a soft sound coming from my right. I was curious. But I hadn't broken that wall for so long, I was afraid to look up and see more of the world than what I had allowed myself. It had been so long. Yet something within me ached to look, and I found my eyes lift.
My heart caught in my chest.
Her eyes were dark and warm. She stood only a few feet away from me. She watched me silently, holding perfectly still. I could have imagined she was just a statue, except for the warmth in her eyes and the slight cloud that appeared around her shiny nose every time her breath escaped.
Then she took a slow step forward.
She seemed to be speaking to my heart. There is more to this life I had created for myself. There was more to this suffering. I could still live.
Then, as if she knew I understood, she bounded away into the trees, and my gaze followed.
I was suddenly aware that the sun had come out. There were old flowers still clinging to the trees. The light shed onto my face and it stretched in an old familiar way. I hadn't smiled in years.
It felt good.
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