Earth, Wind and Fire

'I wish to tell you a story unlike any you have ever truly heard. It's an old story, so you may know of it.

'In another time, there was a place where a great flame burned eternal. At this place there lived a man who, every morning, would take a single step forward and rest. He was searching for something. He wasn't really going anywhere. His only wish was to never remain in the same place for longer than what he needed to be. He knew that that which he was searching for was searching for him.

'At another place, not too far from the first, there was a patch of land which grew the world's most beautiful fruits. They tickled the eye and blew the taste buds of any who picked and ate from them. At this place there lived a woman. She had hair as course as the ground itself, and it was beautiful. She had a smile which seared itself into the hearts of any who beheld it. When she spoke it was with the voice of a little girl; mischievous, loving, innocent. She went with the wind, and the wind with her. Where it blew her heart would glide, where she soared it led her.

'One day, at the same time in the same place, she came about a bend in a long, winding road where - in the distance - she saw a place that she had only ever heard of. It was bright and quiet except for the wind and the crackling of a flame so perfect that it brought tears to her eyes. She approached it, skipping and singing with each giant leap forward. And she stopped. Lying curled up in an old sleeping bag, she saw a man. He didn't look to be in pain, he didn't look to be sad, but he looked to be doing something.'

"Hello," she said as she sat next to him.
"Hello," was his response.
"Do you live here?" she asked.
"Right now, yes." was his reply.
"Do you like it?" she said.
"It beats where I was yesterday," he replied with a broad smile. She smiled too.
"Where were you yesterday?" she asked.
"Oh, I was over there." He pointed to the square block besides the one he now filled with his sleeping bag. The girl stopped smiling.
"You only moved a block forward today," she said.
"Yes."
"But, why?"
"Because everything I want is exactly where I am right now."

'She looked at him, expecting he would say a little more. He didn't, so they sat on in silence until she remembered the flame.'

"It's a pretty fire," she said.
"I know." he replied with a smile.
"Did you make it?" she asked.
"It was a long time ago. But yes, I did. I imagined it would call you to me. I'm glad it did."

'She looked at him and she knew who he was immediately. She smiled.'

"Are you glad I came?" she asked.
"I was always glad because I knew you would," was his reply.
"Why me, though? Why call me when you could have called so many since long ago?" she asked bashfully.
"I did," he said. "But they never heard me. You did."

'She looked hurt. But she didn't leave. She stayed a little longer. Her smile turned to a frown with each moment as his words began making some sense to her.'

"Don't frown. Please?" he said with a smile.
"I am not your consolation," she said.
"I never said you were, nor would I ever imply any such," he stated, a glint in his eye. "They never heard me because their ears were closed to my call. They never heard me because they wouldn't allow themselves to. I speak to all, yet none choose to hear me. None chose to hear me. Until now."
"I understand," she said, her smile returning to her face. Her eyes beamed at him. "So where do we go from now?"
"Wherever you choose to go, go," he said. "You'll find me exactly where you left me."

'She remained silent for a moment, decoding his words. She pressed her palms together and slowly drew them apart. The wind blew cold in his face. He closed his eyes, pressed his own palms together and slowly drew them apart. The wind stopped. He smiled at her, and she understood.'

"You won't leave?" she asked.
"Leave where?" asked he.
"Here," she said.
"Well, of course I will! Everybody leaves here," he said. He gestured to the same place he had pointed out earlier. "Yesterday I was there. I'm here right now. Surely that's all that matters?"

She smiled.

"May I stay with you a little while longer?" she asked.
"I would like that a lot," he said.

'She stayed for a while. She shared her wind, he shared his earth. And each continued being happy.'