A Sense of Calm

Chapter 2Singing: The sound of adventure

I stood still staring happily at the pale green grass in front of me. Collapsing onto the ground, I reached out and felt the soft blades tickle my hands. I then looked at my hands. "Still grey," I thought. I didn't think the green would rub off on me, but I had to try. I looked up and saw something in the distance. A flash of a different type of green in the forest. Looking at the leaves I could only see traces of green. In a panic I looked back at the grass. I knew the leaves on the trees were green, but I couldn't see it. The grass had not changed, but why couldn't I see the leaves? I didn't have time to focus on that. The flash of color had come and gone again. In pursuit of the new bright color in my life, I picked myself off the ground and ran into the dense wood. The dangers of going into the forest without the ability to hear was frightening, but well worth what I was looking for. As long as it didn't get dark, I'd be fine. I weaved through the large trees and searched. I strained my eyes to find the correct shade of green I was looking for. Not three minutes had passed before I had forgotten what the color green had looked like. It was not the green I had tried so desperately to forget. The echo of the memory was so different from the color, so my memory was quickly fleeting. I looked down to try to remember the color, but the field of green was hidden by the grey and black of the trees. I looked up and saw the flash of green again. I hurried to follow it, but again it had disappeared into the trees. Finding whatever it was I was chasing was so important to me. I didn't care if I spent the whole day searching for this random shimmer of hope.

Hours of nothing. My hope was fading faster than the light of the sun. As Sunset approached and my body was growing tired. My legs were shaking, my stomach was cramping and aching, and my feet were sore and bruised. All of the lights were quickly fading into shadows. Lost in the forest, in the dark, with no food, water, or shelter. My hope was being washed away by the ever growing sense of fear I was feeling. The fear washed over me like a wave that was now dragging me into a sea of despair. I sat down hopelessly in the green grass and grey leaves. I closed my eyes, disappointed and frightened.

Suddenly I heard a painful ringing in my ears. I covered them and gritted my teeth in agonizing pain as the ringing got louder. I started moaning as the pain was so unbearable. I clinched my jaw as hard as possible, but I couldn't quite tell where the ringing was coming from. I felt as though I couldn't escape. It was like the ringing was in my head and not in the real world. The ringing slowly softened its tone and pitch. As it faded away I removed my hands from my ears. The sour pitch started to melt into a beautiful melody of joyus notes. I looked around in a moment of disbelief. "Am I going crazy?" I thought to myself. Slowly and carefully, I pushed myself off of the ground. My legs were shaky and unstable. As I pushed myself forward the sweet sound became A little louder. I let my ears guide me and used my eyes as a way to avoid hazards. It only took about ten minutes to find the source of the sound. When I found the sound I also stumbled upon the bright green color.

"You!" I screamed at the figure standing before me. A young man. He was about my age, maybe a little older. He was covered in bruises and burns. Marks that looked more painful than I could even imagine. I studied his face first. The bright green I had seen moving in the forest was the scruffy mass of long hair the fell down to his shoulders.He had vibrent green eyes and he had a scruffy bit of stubble around his mouth and cheeks. He had scars and bruises scattered around his face which seemed like it was aging him a few years. He had a fearful look in his eyes like he had been fighting to survive. Though he looked afraid, his eyes looked kind and caring. His lips looked soft. I stared at them for longer than any other part of his face. I moved my eyes downward examining the rest of his body. He was tall, I believe on account of his long legs and torso. He looked strong, but also gentle. He was covered by layers of fabric. It looked thick and, by the amount of swear on his face, it looked hot too. His hands were covered by bandages. He had a pair of gloves in one of his hands that I presumed he wore on his day to day. His shoes were similar to the thick boots I usually wore. For such a tall and tough looking man he cowered at the sight of a small girl like myself.

I was going to use this to my advantage, but before I could say anything he said, "Are you going to say anything else or are you going to continue to undress me with your eyes?" I could feel my face get hot.

"H-how d-dare you! Y-You... you!" I was flustered. I could barely get my words out. Suddenly he interrupted me again.

"Well. I guess I shouldn't be too afraid. Considering you can barely even speak." He said before straightening his posture then putting his gloves in a small bag next to his feet. My face got even hotter. I couldn't tell if I was angry, embarrassed, or both. I stumbled around my words, trying to find what I wanted to say. As I tried to search for what I was going to say next, I watched as he removed his hefty jacket and lifted his shirt, sliding it off of his torso. It revealed even more scars and burns and bruises. Moreso it revealed his muscular shape. I watched as he went into his bag and took out something to tie up his hair. He wrapped it in a bun then stood infront of me, hands on hips. And waited. "So. Are you going to stand here all night and watch me undress, because that's a little uncomfortable." I turned around quickly and covered my eyes. Oddly enough, not looking at him gave me the courage to speak.

"Who are you and why are you in the woods? And why is your hair green? And why-"

"Would you stop with the questions?" He asked. "You have a lot of nerve walking up to my camp and asking my a bunch of questions. Give me a second. Geez." There was an awkward pause before he continued speaking. "You could've at least given me the courtesy of letting me change." My head was spinning. I hadn't heard someone speak in years. It was so shocking and unreal. I didn't quite know what to do. "Alright. You can turn around now." The man was now wearing a pair of long pants with a plaid pattern now. He still was not wearing a shirt.

"Can you answer my questions now?" I asked with an annoying tone. He looked at me trying to assess the situation. He took a minute then took a deep breath.

"Okay. My name is Daniel and I've been camping for a few months now. Just wanted to leave the city for a little bit. My hair is green because I like the color green. Is that all?"

"What were you singing?"

"It was nothing. Just a song I heard on the radio." He starts walking to a small tent a few feet away from him. I waited a few minutes for him to walk back out of the tent. When he came out he had a small radio in his hands. There was a green light next to an on off switch and he was bobbing his head awkwardly. He wasn't saying yes or no to anything. He was just nodding awkwardly.

"What are you doing? Why are you nodding like that?" I asked, confused and curious. He looked at me almost shocked.

"Can you not hear the music?" He asked. I shook my head no and he pressed the switch on the radio and the little light turned off. He stepped closer. "But you can hear me just fine?" I sighed.

"I lost my hearing after my friend disappeared. This is the first time I've heard anything in years." I said quietly. I repressed the memory of him as Daniel looked sadly at me.

"I'm sorry. I guess I kind of understand." I looked at him confused and kind of angry. "I don't know. I've never lost any senses before. I never had my soulmate senses." He said shyly. Suddenly I understood why Daniel was so bruised and beaten up. Some people didn't have any smell or sight. Some people were color blind or deaf like I was. Daniel hadn't met his soul mate and I knew what sense he didn't have. I reached for his hand and he cautiously reached toward it. In one quick motion I gripped his hand then swung myself toward him. I squeezed him tightly hoping maybe something would happen. I realized... he couldn't feel.