When she awoke that morning, there He was – as close and as real as the sun shining in the bedroom window – penetrating every thought. She got up – reluctantly… made the bed with a new handmade cotton quilt – ivory with a beautiful garden of circles filled with purple violets, blue morning glories, and yellow roses. She reached across to the corner chair, found His white t-shirt and held it against her face… breathing in deeply as if that alone would make Him appear. Closing her eyes, inhaling His unique scent from the white cotton, she could almost feel Him.
Sighing, she tossed the shirt inside a drawer, and went about doing chores around the house… later, in the afternoon shade, she sat outside on the porch, watching dozens of birds at feeders placed in the yard. Wild flowers sprinkled the mountain, a scenic view between trees and shrubs, and she noticed several colorful butterflies freely circling the yellow jasmine wrapped around their balcony. The beauty and peace of it all was breathtaking.
The exact reason she visualized this place: the perfect escape from reality.
The house was built of cedar, the hues of raw wood blending into the land and nature around it. Windows were placed abundantly throughout – imposing glass panels that brought the mountain life almost completely inside. A simple kitchen provided essentials for cooking, and an intimate living area consisted of a custom deer hide sofa, a large tree trunk supporting beveled glass as a coffee table, one 30’s style floor lamp, a gray stone fireplace… and a very expensive stereo system.
As day turned to evening, she sighed again, watching the road as she paced the porch. When would He come down that driveway? The anticipation was overwhelming. She listened a moment to the sweet sound of dusk – the rustling of leaves, birds settling in for the night, water bubbling over rocks in the creek nearby. Finally, the sun disappeared over the horizon, and she turned to go inside.
She bathed in her luxurious dressing room, sat at the mirror, and imagined Him on the bed. In the reflection, remembering past times together, she saw Him there – as real as the brisk night air.
Almost trance-like, she applied soft makeup, peach blush, dark mascara… eyeliner… and bronze lipstick, tipped with red gloss. Brushed out her long hair, brilliant red and gold strands spilling onto fine, rounded shoulders. Sprayed Azure – His chosen scent – delicately into her navel… lightly touched the fragrance to her wrists and throat. Considered her wardrobe of negligees – selected an elegant peach satin chemise fitted at the waist with sheer chiffon insets and a seductive, lace v-front bodice sprinkled in delicate pearls. Finally, encircled her throat with a double strand pearl choker – its hand-painted enamel butterfly clasp had beautifully decorated wings dotted in glittering diamonds.
Glancing at the crystal clock on her dressing table, she took a deep breath. Still He wasn’t there. Here – with her. She took a deep breath and wrapped an ivory chiffon robe around her shoulders.
Darkness now fallen, she returned out to the porch, leaning against the white railing. Bright stars lit up the night sky, each carrying countless wishes – she looked up, and delivered a silent whisper through her indigo eyes to the first one sighted. The world began its lullaby of crickets, small animals and birds… and she could hear the choir of spring water beating down the mountain just up the road. A long sigh… and then back inside the house.
There was no phone here. No television. No connection to the outside world. An escape.
She lit more candles and incense, turned on the CD player… and danced with eyes closed, waving her arms through the air as if she were one of the butterflies, envisioning what it would be like to be so delicate as to land on a rose.
