A warm breeze slightly fondled my draggled hair, a sigh slipped out of my mouth. My throat did hurt, I was hungry, thirsty and haven’t spoken a word since a while. No one to talk to only to the demons raging in me. I was still looking at my wounded skin, when I became aware of a shadow spread over the dusty road.
Before I was able to stand up, I heard footsteps approaching me and a soft female voice was speaking, “May I help you up?”. The vibration of her voice made my heart race and I lifted my head up slightly. Blended by shining light I had to close my eyes, “I just stumbled”, I could hear myself speaking with a hoarsely voice. The woman came nearer and I forced my eyes open again, now I could see her lean body dressed in a long green robe. My eyes were wandering up her body and I recognized long red hair floating loose over her shoulders. Warm and shiny green eyes were looking at me and she was wearing the most beautiful smile upon her face I’d ever seen.
Her hand grabbed my arm and gently supported me. “You have to be careful on this road, you know? There are sometimes obstacles in the way you just can’t see”, her soft soprano warmed my heart and somehow I felt better then, just because of her presence. I nodded and brushed away the dust upon my clothes. How must I have looked like for her? My once so shiny brownish hair was draggled, my blue eyes reddened due to my tears, clothes were looking more than rags and nothing reminded of the former dark-blue gown.
She bended down and lifted up my pack, “Here you dropped it”. I took the pack out of here hand, “Thank you” I mumbled and looked away shyly. “Where are you going?” she asked and from the corner of my eyes I could see her smiling at me. I turned my head slightly and for the first time I looked straight into her shiny eyes. “Nowhere special, just down that road” I heard me saying. Her eyes were emerald-green and reminded me of a deep mountain lake. I had a short impression that I’d seen the whole universe in them, billions of stars passed me by, worlds had been created and life given. This only lasted for a split second and her voice brought me back to reality again. Slightly shaking my head I noticed her saying, “Exact the same direction I am going. May I accompany you for a while?”
“Why not?” I thought but just decided to give her a shrug. Her answer was a short nod and still the smile in her eyes didn’t go away. We walked side by side for quite a while, no word was spoken but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence though, it felt just peaceful and good. I cleared my throat “My name is Adeline” I said. She answered with a short nod that was followed by “I am Brighid”. These short sentences were the only words we spoke until we decided it was time to set up a camp for the night.
The night was warm and for the first time since months I looked up and admired the sparkling stars on the velvet sky. “You know” I started “it is good to have someone around sometimes.” Brighid looked at me, “Yes I know what you mean. But sometimes it is good to walk alone a while to feel what it means having someone, who understands you.” I thought about her words, still watching the night. “This is true, Brighid. Although it is easier having someone lending you a helping hand when you need it.”, “Quite right you are. But how will you learn to climb over the rocks in your way when you always trust on another person?”
My eyes followed a falling star and I closed my eyes and made a wish. “Sleep now” Brighid whispered and my eyes remained closed. Sleep was coming soon and covered me with its warm and tender blanket, before my mind was washed away by the river of dreams I mumbled “Will you be here tomorrow morning?”.
I felt her touch on my skin and just before the river caught me I heard her soft whisper “I am always with you my child”. Her kiss on my cheek sent me to sleep and I felt loved and understood. No nightmares were torturing in this night, no fear disturbed my sleep and I awoke with a stretch and yawn.
My eyes popped open and I looked around, there was no sign of Brighid. I straightened up and looked around. There were some white owl feathers were Brighid has laid the night before, I picked up one feather and tenderly held it in my hand. “I am always with you …” I heard her speak again and closed my eyes, a warm smile appeared upon my face.
Although she was gone, I could feel her presence and now I know that I am never wandering alone…
*****************************
This was written way back in 2006 and when I read it today I thought that I described her the way I see Cerridwen so often ... the reddish hair ... the green eyes. hm...
It will have its reason I did describe her that way though I am now thinking of her with reddish-blonde hair and rather blueish eyes.