Reminder

Often, I am surprised by the way the mind works. Seemingly thoughtless synapses trigger and fire a haphazard barrage of signals directed to and from every point on the body, forcing life to work. Last night I told Ashley that the sunrise reminded me of her. I didn’t realize how true it was until this morning.

A soft fog curled around the green hills and valleys of the Lynchburg outskirts, setting a perfect stage for the beautiful display that was about to happen. It was 5:53AM. There were no other cars going my way, so I had the chance to relax and drive. Ashley borrowed my iPod for the week, so I had the radio tuned to a morning music station. Be it through sheer luck or divine intervention, the radio knew exactly what I wanted to hear, each song perfectly capturing the feeling of a love so strong, so unrestrained, that it emanated like an aura about the lovers.

The soft fog rolled in around the tires and wheel wells of the old Mercury—not in a threatening way, but in a gentle, supportive way, as if to lift the car up and help it glide gently along the scenic highway. I smiled and leaned back against the leather as these songs continued to pour the emotions I had been missing for months back into my empty soul. It was then when I noticed the tightrope act unveiling behind me.

The sun had climbed her way up from behind the distant mountains slowly, gracefully, and was perched atop the furthest peak. From there, she took the tiniest steps imaginable up, up, up, higher into the sky. Her glow filled me with warmth and the sight of her beautifully brilliant body made me think of the only truly pure being I knew. My vagrant smile burst forth from behind my lips as I held the thought of Ashley against my heavy chest.

I’m not exactly sure if it was the words spoken the night before into a distant recording, the sudden realization of the simplicity and felicity of our relationship, or a combination of the two, but something triggered those thoughtless couriers and had them running up and down the length and breadth of my body, helping me feel the unwavering dedication that I have been trying so valiantly to cling to. I now understand that the feelings I was reaching for weren’t something I could ever force. I just needed patience—and a little reminder.