No one would have believed, still would not believe, that another world could intersect so freely with ours. Silly, I know, but take what you need of my story.
She was just a girl, twenty years young and fearful at the prospect of the future being thrust toward her. She expected, like everyone else, for responsibility to hit her hard and without warning. And like everyone else, she was too wrapped up in schoolwork and handling a job, that she told herself she had no time for family or love. She could deal with those later. So she went about her days in the city, walking next to complete strangers and never once wondering about anything other than that dastardly future that loomed over her like a darkening cloud.
Yet she found herself walking through the park on a late summer’s night. Despite the absence of the sun, warmth rested like a blanket over the city. The slightest touch of a breeze made her sigh in unspoken relief, just as the leaves rustled and an owl’s quiet feathers shook. The slightest sheen of sweat rested over her brows and she exhaled as she wiped it off with the back of her hand.
Silence reigned, she thought, as she sat down on one of the park’s benches. After her mind had been freed from the burden of trying to find a place to rest, she realized that it wasn’t silent after all. The calm murmurs of the leaves reached her ears as the slight breeze slipped through the nooks and crannies of the branches on the trees that stood all around her.
An air of peace drifted around her, but she was still untouched, still lost in her troubling thoughts and the stress that weighed down on her. “What am I doing?” she thought aloud, dejected, and shoulders slumping in defeat. Defeat to what, she had no idea, but she just felt…finished.
“It seems you’ve lost your way.” The silky voice that seemed to come from all directions at once was like nothing she’d ever heard before. It was drenched in honey, filled with the buoyant call of songbirds. It was…it was happiness all in its own.
She could not speak because she was so stunned, nor could she find the direct source of the voice. Somehow, she knew she would never see the owner to such a beautiful voice, yet she doubted she would never forget it.
“I’ve watched you for some time, my dear. You’re lost, like so many others. Frightened even.” Gentle and almost spoken as a coo, the words did not carry any means of insult…only sadness. “I’m afraid of what the world is turning to, if you’ve all forgotten.”
“Forgotten what?” Her own voice surprised her and she cringed involuntarily at how harsh she sounded when compared to him. The shock she’d felt before when hearing the voice for the first time had faded. Her question had been aroused from the underlying depression in his words. The voice was quiet for a long while, as if he were surprised she’d spoken too.
“Something important, but I wonder…” he trailed off in thought and she shifted uneasily, though only because she craved to hear what he had to say. Unbeknownst to her, she had ceased to think of the future that weighed so heavily on her shoulders, and it had been the first time in over a year that that had happened.
It felt like hours had passed before he spoke again. “I would like for you to do something for me.” The word “anything” sat just on the tip of her tongue and she had to bite it back before she immediately responded to this strange voice. Rational thought made her stay quiet. The voice was beautiful, like the sound of everything that was supposed to be right in the world, but this world had taught her wariness and to distrust. He must have sensed her hesitancy because he chuckled.
“It is merely a request, nothing more.”
“What do you need to know?” she whispered.
The voice mulled over his thoughts. How she could tell, she didn’t know; it was like she could sense the emotions passing through him, as if he were the very air around her. “If love still exists.” He paused. “If it can still thrive in its dying world.” The voice became sad again, filled with an ancient anguish that squeezed her heart.
She didn’t know exactly what would happen. Fear of the unknown made her words falter again, but she knew she had to do it, knew it as surely as she knew her name. “I want to help you.”
Silence for another agonizingly long moment.
A blinding white light made all of the colors slowly leech away from her eyes. The trees melted all around her, tones of browns and greens bleeding into the earth, and finally falling away into oblivion. The sky dissipated and she was left with nothing; absolutely nothing. And the sound was gone too, along with that sweet and wonderful voice.
Fear settled in and she tried to reach out in front of her. Blinking furiously, that fear growing into terror when all she saw was white, white, and more white. Her shin hit something and she fell with a cry. Or…she thought she did. She could feel the air leave her lungs, feel her throat hum as her vocal cords strummed in response to let out her desperate plea. Yet nothing happened…there was no sound.
She hit the ground hard and squeezed her eyes shut.
Grass tickled her arms and legs, her bare feet. A ladybug scuttled across the side of her shoulder and she tilted her head to the side so she could look at it. Lids fluttering open, she watched the red shelled creature nimbly hop—and half glide—off of her shoulder onto a blade of grass. A breeze made the creature’s tiny perch sway. It stayed there for a moment longer before picking itself back up into the air and drifting upward into the sky.
She turned her head to watch it leave and realized something. She could see. As she sat up, she stared down incredulously at the white dress that clung graciously against her body. She wiggled her toes and looked down at her arms; they too were bare, one thin white strap rested on both of her shoulders. Something was off, though, something that she couldn’t place.
She remembered the voice and how it needed something from her. And…she remembered falling, wondering where her own voice went. Her voice. “Hello?” she said, but again, no words touched her ears. Surely she could hear her own voice. She wasn’t mute. For a moment, she wondered if she was deaf, but the grass rustled all around her and the low hum of the wind told her otherwise.
Then the softest breath, carried by the zephyr, murmured a “thank you.”
A warm hand touched her shoulder and she jumped. The hand recoiled, same with the person attached to it as she whipped around with wide, scared eyes. But she froze when she looked at him, into his glowing green eyes. He stopped too and tilted his head to the side. His lips moved.
No sound came out.
Frustration crept into those beautiful green eyes of his and she watched as he ran his fingers through his hair. It was a mannerism that the emotion probably triggered, and left his locks sticking up from his scalp. His fingers closed around the back of his neck and he let his arm rest against his chest as if he were thinking, all the while looking at her intently.
She twisted her body all the way around before standing up. A shiver should have crept up her spine, panic should have set in by now, but somehow, somehow she knew there was nothing to be afraid of. There was nothing to worry about. There was only this man.
This man whose hair was sticking up wildly like he’s just gotten out of bed. The sharp contours of his face were even more so accented because of the scowl he wore, the way his brows knit together in concentration. Stubble shadowed his jaw and she could see that his jaw was clenched. It seemed he was grinding his teeth together too, with the subtle way his lips brushed together. If she’d have passed him on the streets, he would have just been another normal face, but looking at the little things he was doing now, watching the emotions flicker over him, she felt something stir in her.
She took all of this in as they stared each other down. Well, it looked like he was still staring past her, still trying to figure something out. She wondered if he felt the same sense of reassurance and tranquility she was feeling. Yet when there were no words spoken, she could wash her gaze down his body, graciously take in his broad shoulders, make out the fine line of his toned body beneath the simple white shirt he was wearing. His pants looked to be made of the same silky material as her dress, same with his shirt.
He opened his mouth as if to speak again, then closed it and smiled apologetically at her. In response to the sudden feelings that washed over her when his scowl changed into a shy grin, she felt her cheeks warm up in the slightest. It made her feel better to see that he ran his hands through his hair again, nervous like she was.
How could they figure out what they were here for if they couldn’t talk? She didn’t know sign and surely he would have tried by now if he knew. The grass beneath their feet was useless; sand or even dirt would have helped to scratch some words down. Maybe they could find something to write…”No.” The voice echoed soothingly in her mind and she gasped. He did the same thing, as if he had been having similar thoughts.
Their purpose was becoming a little clearer, but something stopped her from grasping what they were supposed to do. “Follow your heart.” With that, she felt the voice draw away, leaving confusion yet understanding behind for her to mull over.
When her eyes met his again, she found herself smiling. He didn’t smile back. Uncertainty gnawed at him; she could tell by looking at his eyes. She wanted him to see though, that there wasn’t anything to be afraid of. Looking up at him through her lashes, she moseyed her way over and hesitantly held out a hand. Their palms met and she squeezed. The tension that had made his posture rigid fell away and she watched as he relaxed, the straight line of his lips twisting upward to match her smile.
They walked like that, not knowing which way they were going, or even if there was anything out there. The grass rolled beneath their bare feet. As they continued to walk, she drew closer to him. He was the only one there in this long, never-ending stretch of grassland. It scared her yet thrilled her at the same time. The warmth he radiated was inviting, just his touch soothing. It reminded her that this was real, even if it seemed like a dream. He brought her back to earth.
The grass eventually turned into woodland, but the carpet beneath their feet was soft with fresh pine needles. Not once did they pass over a thorn, or even a burr. The trees above them acted as canopies and shielded them from the harsh rays of the sun. They kept walking.
She had been looking up at him, having snuck glances when she was sure he wasn’t looking, when she saw his green eyes light up. Following his gaze, she saw that their woodland opened up onto a beach. Their toes met smooth sand that felt like a blanket beneath them. The ocean water glittered with the diamond rays of the suns, colors of orange and red bouncing across the surface. Frothy white foam crested the surface where a wave fell against the shore.
He pointed at it and she looked away from the water to nod. Together, hand in hand, they raced toward the water. The blue swirled around their legs like a caress. There was no current, no undertow, and somehow the waves still lapped at the shore. Together they spun and they danced, sending rivulets of glistening rainbow-colored water through the air.
Their clothes clung to their bodies as they laughed silently and smiled until their cheeks hurt. Never did they let go of each other’s hands; they were both scared of losing each other in this big world, no matter how close they were at that moment.
When she got tired and tugged on his arm, he shook some water out of his hair and likewise ran his fingers through the locks. But it wasn’t a slow movement like he was thinking, or hesitant; he shook out the damp hair until it stuck up off of his scalp just a bit. His smile faded and she was surprised to see his green eyes darken and become serious.
With the hand that was free of her own, he slowly reached out toward her. His fingertips lingered over her hips before he slid his hand to her lower back. Warmth blossomed where he touched her and her lips parted in a small o as she inhaled soundlessly. A knowing half smile made his face light up, but those green eyes continued to darken, losing their glow and becoming something more intimate.
He could tell that she wasn’t afraid; the way she kept her chin up, eyes slightly narrowed as if to absorb everything that was going on in her surroundings. Her hooded hazel eyes reflected the light that shined off of the waves, and he swore he’d never seen anything more beautiful.
She didn’t let go of his hand, only dropped their laced fingers down past their sides as she took another step closer to him. Their hips brushed together as he put the tiniest bit of pressure on her lower back. He craned his head down and their noses touched first, then their lips.
A spark lit up between them as their feelings rained down on each other. She squeezed his hand and tilted her head to the side, drinking in more of the dizzying happiness and good feelings that seemed to pour out of him. This was nothing, nothing she had ever felt before. It felt like falling through air where there was no gravity, flying while standing on the ground; like a peaceful summer night, and the wonder of a fireworks show.
By the time they managed to end the kiss, they were both glowing with bliss. And finally he let her hand go, but never did he take his hands off of her. His fingertips ran over the back of her hand and traced her arm. She closed her eyes as he explored the shape of her body, sighing when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a hug.
They sat on the beach together, even after night feel. She nestled her head in the crook of his neck and sat sideways on his lap. Their clothes had dried; the salt didn’t irritate their skin. He had his hands resting against her lap, arms around her and she wondered how she could feel so at peace in a stranger’s arms. No, that was wrong. He wasn’t a stranger. She’d seen him for what he really was, really paid attention to his thoughts, his feelings. She’d actually cared.
And she couldn’t be happier.
She didn’t know when she had fallen asleep, but when her eyes fluttered open again, she realized someone was stroking her hair. “Good morning.” The unfamiliar voice startled her and she woke with a start, but the same person only wrapped his arms tighter around her and murmured an, “it’s okay,” into her ear. She froze, but that didn’t stop her heart from beating a mile a minute.
“It’s me. No, don’t look,” he said softly when she went to turn her head. Puzzled, she touched his hand and let her fingers drift up his arm. “You know it’s me,” he breathed. She did. Her hands rested against his chest, as did her ear, and she listened to the sound of his thudding heart.
“I can hear you.” The thought brought tears to her eyes and she finally looked up into his face. His green eyes were warm, dark hair sticking up all over the place because he’d just woken up. She laughed and his eyes closed in contentment. “What?” she asked, still amazed that she could hear his voice, and her own.
“Your laugh, your voice…Oh.” He blinked open his eyes and looked at her blankly.
“Oh what?” she asked, feeling slightly uneasy. What if now that he’d heard her voice, now that the magic was gone, and by the looks of it their magical world too—because of the blankets that wrapped around their clothes and the mattress beneath them—that he didn’t want to be with her? What if it was all for nothing, now that they would be going back to their old lives?
“I can tell you something now, something that I wanted to say.” The smile that followed his words brought her some comfort.
He paused and looked into her eyes again. His fingers moved up to play with her hair and she tilted her head to the side, letting herself relax as she watched him think. Brows dipped down slightly, eyes half closed as he too basked in the feel of being close to her. Maybe words didn’t need to be said, she thought.
“I think you’re beautiful.” He paused for only a moment. “And that I might be in love with you.”
They’d known each other for a day. Now that she thought about it though, it could have been a lifetime. They had walked across their entire world just to reach that ocean. It could have been months, weeks that they had been together. She’d learned everything there was to know about him, except for the things that made him him. But what did that matter if she already knew everything?
“I think I might be too,” she said.
---
They figured out soon enough that time hadn’t passed while they were in Wonderland, as they called it. Sometimes they talked about the voice they had both heard, and had wondered if they would ever hear him again. The thought of not hearing the voice’s call again made her quite sad, but she would not let it bother her. It didn’t seem to bother him too much either.
She finished school with a master’s degree in art and had her own studio set up in their hometown. He had already finished school a couple of years earlier, so they lived together comfortably. Their families had no idea what to think of this strange love that had suddenly blossomed between two “strangers” and her family came to loathe his. That worried him a bit. She would catch him frowning at the family pictures she had around the house a few times. After that, she took them down.
Their marriage came and went. Knowing each other’s names hadn’t been strange, but rarely did they ever call to each other. More than often, they spoke through soundless gestures and mannerisms. It was a lot more peaceful that way. They understood each other.
Her commissioners started to lose interest in her art, and the funds for her supplies started to diminish when no one would buy the pieces. Frustration made her slam their bedroom door and lock herself in her room. He tried to coax her out by cooking or even by blasting their favorite music, hoping he could dance away her unhappiness. Yet more and more often, she just stayed in there and stared into the mirror, doubting her job, her life.
His family started to talk about the two and that upset the both of them. They started to argue, pointing fingers at each other’s relatives, until she locked him out of the bedroom again. The banging on the other end of the door frightened her and she burst into tears. At the sound of her crying, he’d broken the lock just to get by her side and hold her.
But when she looked up to thank him, she saw how his jaw was clenched and how his brows were knit. He was thinking something important. He didn’t even stroke her hair to soothe her.
All the stress and the family loathing became too much for the both of them. There was only so much strain either of them could take. She said her good-bye with tears streaking down her face. He had just nodded, face pale and stony. It made her sad to see that he wouldn’t cry for her, for what they’d lost.
The papers were signed, the wedding ring returned, and her happiness gone.
It was on a summer night’s eve that she wandered in the community park, sketchbook in hand. She sat down on a park bench, lost in thought as she tapped the end of her pencil against her lips. The drawing was skeletal, a husk of something that should have been full of life. Angrily, she tore the page out and threw it on the ground. But her pent up frustration had been released in that moment and with a sigh, she leaned back against the bench.
It was then that she realized where she was. She closed her eyes and breathed out through her mouth. Reaching for her pad and pencil, she planned on getting up and walking away, to never come back.
The voice struck her like it had the first time she’d heard it. She listened to what he had to say, sat there for an hour and hugged herself. She nodded at times, cried silently at others, laughed soundlessly once or twice. She wanted to beg for something she knew he could not give. Instead, she continued to listen to him speak, but all the while hurriedly scratched some words onto the last page on her sketch pad.
Finally, she rested her pencil on the bench. Touching the page at the back of her pad, she ripped out the last piece of paper and placed it on the seat of the bench. The voice watched her. She could feel his presence all around her, but for once, she couldn’t read his feelings. It didn’t bother her, though. This was something she had to do.
She nodded at the piece of paper once, then hugged her sketch pad to her chest and walked away.
---
The voice held the paper between his wrinkled hands.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
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