And so there was a young lady. Outgoing, lovable, so optimistic. She grew up in the countryside, her hours were spent mainly outside, caring for the animals. Ah, animals, they were her life... she loved them, feed them, cared for them. She would be out there even during the coldest day in winter and the hottest day in summer. Nothing would keep her from being away from them, except college however. Education was always important in her family, so a week before fall began, she packed her bags, and bid her farewell to the beloved animals.
The young man was heading off to school as well, he had graduated top of his class, he was an 'engineering prodigy', or so his teacher had called him. By the time he finished his high school career, he had already learned how to create a hologram from an old radio, a plasma screen TV and his i Phone. His parent weren't too happy when they learned he destroyed his i Phone but were delighted when he showed them what he had done.. And there he was walking from his dorm room to his first class. The bright sun, the smell of leaves and freshly cut grass drove him wild, he started running to the main building to get back to the comfort of the air conditioning...
The young lady actually went to the same school as the young man... She met him during orientation, but she knew they wouldn't get along once he read off his classes and scoffed at "Pre-Engineering" stating, "I took this class when i was in 8th grade. What do they think i am, an idiot?" She unpacked her bags, cleaning up her space a bit and sat next to the window looking out at the courtyard. Such a beautiful day it was, so bright, everything out there seemed so cheerful. She dropped what she as doing, grabbed a picnic blanket, a book, and ran outside. She As the wind hit her face, she closed her eyes, breathed it in, and walked right into the young man...
"Oh, my, I'm so sorry" she muttered. "Its alright. Here, I think this is yours" he handed her her Veterinarian book, "studying to be a vet, I see." "Yes, i love animals. And you?"she said handing him his books. "Chemical engineering." she said smirking, thinking she would be impressed... "Chemical engineering huh?, Did you know that chemicals are part of the reason that whales and other sea life are dying? When people use chemicals to control weeds and such in their garden, the chemicals seep underground and eventually make it into the oceans." The young man was speechless... he wasn't used to such remark, he usually got compliments on how bright he must be to study such a complicated field... "I actually didn't know." "Well, now you do." the young lady said, placing her blanket on the ground.
He was intrigued by her.. Mystified. A gust of wind blew and he cringed his nose, and coughed. "Are you alright?" she asked. "Ugh, yea, the smell out here just kills me" he said coughing once again. "The smell? All i smell is fresh air? I think its wonderful!" she exclaimed breathing in deeply. "You like how it smells out here ?' he asked. She nodded and smiled up at the sky, letting the sun beat down on her, "yes, yes I do..." " I spend most of my time indoors working and stuff so I'm not too used to this kinda stuff!" he said. "well, you should take your time and appreciate nature" she smiled, "Being indoors too much isn't healthy. What do you work on?" "Oh, just creating stuff, building new things from nothing. I just like messing around and seeing what i can make." he said blase-like, as if it didn't matter that what he did was incredible, even though he knew it did, "I don't see whats the big deal about nature is." The young lady stood up, "You dont. Close your eyes..." "Why? he asked. "Just do it. " she insisted, "What do you hear ?"
"I hear footsteps, and cars honking"
"Listen closer."
"Okay, i hear leaves rustling and a bee to my right. Am i supposed to hear anything?"
"Yes, your supposed to hear how the winds doesnt just want to knock you down, its telling you something. You shuld hear how the leaves arent just rustling because of the wind, but be cause theres a lizard trying to find its way back home. You shuld hear the birds above our heads chirping, and the dogs in the nearby park playing with each other. can you hear it now?"
"I can hear a frog by the pond, catching flies with its toungue. I can hear a squirrel stealing nuts and hiding it in his nest."
"Now open your eyes, and what do you see?"
"I see buildings and cars."
She sighed, "Look around you. Look past those things"
"Okay fine" he made a slow 360 turn, " I see the trees where i heard the birds, and the sky and the sun. i see the pond where i heard the frog. I see the squirrel eating the nuts it stole and i see flowers."
"What about the butterflies dancing in the wind, the ripe blueberries that I want to go over and pick?"
"I see those too."
"And...?"
"I never noticed it before... Its mesmerizing."
"And..?" she smiled confidently...
"Its beautiful."
The young man and the young lady walked over to the blueberry bush, picking them, laughing, talking, smiling. She laughed when he squeezed one and it squirted in his face. He laughed when the frog jumped out at her and she screamed. The young man no longer cringed when a gust of wind hit him in his face. But he smiled as he would walk out of buildings with his Chemical Engineering books on his left, and his future love on his right...
inspired by Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
P.S. Please excuse any typos... !!