a happy turn of events / the eagle

There is no way I will ever figure this out. Life is just full of mysteries. There I was, slumped on the same sofa, burying my head under a blue-green retro print seat pillow, learning to accept the loss and the thumping pain that just won’t go away, when my phone rang.

His name flashed across the digital display.

Reaching out for the phone and hearing his first hello felt like a brief out-of-body experience. I wasn’t happy in an instant. I was simply RELIEVED. Oh yes, in capitals. I felt a big burden was taken off my chest. It was just pure joy to know that he cares enough to reach out. And it was immensely comforting to hear his old tone and to hear him call me by the name he gave me.

I shall take you back a bit. The first week of our encounter I decided to give ourselves nicknames after he started to call me “sweetheart”. I didn’t want him to call me that. Instead I decided a nick would sum up whatever closeness there is between us that he would like to show to the world or to express just between the two of us. After much thought he then decided to call me by the name of the Greek Goddess, Gaia.

Gaia was one of the Titans that had ruled the ancient Greek world. Her domain was the Earth. She didn’t rule the trees, stones, seas or skies. She was the trees, stones, seas and skies. Her smile is the breath-taking sunrise of the tropical islands, her laughter is the rustling trees of the lower alpine pine forests, her sorrow the dripping cold rain of a London afternoon and her wrath is the raging hurricane decimating the coast of the Mexican Gulf.

Gaia became a crown he placed upon my head. His admiration and respect lent sparks to the crown. Wearing it was uplifting and created a confidence like the one that grows in any girl that walks off the stage with a sparkling pageant crown.

But his continuous praises and relentless wishes weighed me down. The crown was decorated with bright and colorful gemstones that were beautiful yet heavy at the same time. I yearned to take it off. But once it was taken from me, I was dying for him to give it back to me.

And so it was immensely comforting when he called me by my name. The worries began to flash inside my head the very moment but I decided to sweep it under the rug (This is why only fools fall in love). I knew it was completely dumb and senseless but I longed for his voice, for him to call me by that name, and here it was.

The rest of the conversation really didn’t matter. He said he was sorry he troubled me with his disappearance. That he was like an eagle.

“You don’t have to worry about me. If I leave, it won’t be for long, I will come back. I am like an eagle that flies out into the wild. Eventually, the eagle would make its way home.”

(The next thing he said was a mix of apologies and small talk)

I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault. No, I’m sorry. Really it’s not your fault, it’s mine. Truly no one is at fault. Let’s stop the blame game.

The conversation ended swiftly and I was left with a big grin on my face. I was relieved, but I guess it’s also happiness, too. And yes, the eagle has re-appeared and it has definitely brightened up Gaia’s skies.