In My Palm Yet Out of Reach

Chapter Two: Under the darkening sky

Every morning was similar to the previous one with my peaceful sleep disturbed by the rumbling and scraping sound of heavy and light vehicles which go right below my place. When I reached Halki for the first time, my beautiful mornings to be were always ruined by an angry mood giving a mouthful of words to those vehicles which passes in the dawn. Nonetheless, over time, all these unfamiliar new things welcomed me with open arms and somehow I become comfortable dwelling within their enclosure.

This is the place where one could hardly witness the deep blue sky with a golden heat master within it. Most days the sky was gloomy, shedding its never exhausting tear and bonding the relationship closer with an umbrella. And the damp mist flooded the air blurring our eyes and even withholding the distant scenario from our sight. All this gives additional despair if you were feeling down and doomed.

I had been residing in this kind of place for a couple of months yet I didn't get someone close enough to open up myself. When it comes to the new teacher, it all started with a discussion and helping each other in tackling the difficulties we faced in the teaching field. All time we had our discussions over the phone and didn't have one in face to face. Not to forget, he was a living Buddha. Joke aside, he was called Sage Tylor. One unique name hearing for the first time in my life.

It was Sunday. The sun was long hidden in space and the darkness blanketed mother earth. It was around 7 pm and I was alone, watching a drama. Suddenly I was jolted back from the drama world by a phone ring. Someone was calling me. I picked up the phone from my bedside and noticed the name flashed on it as Tylor Sir. I woke up, cleared my throat, and then answered the call.

"Hello, Miss Pheobe?" he enquired on the other side.

"Yes, this is me, Sir".

"Miss, did you finish writing the lesson plan for the coming week? I am not knowing it well."

"I have finished it, Sir. If you want to refer them, I can share." I answered.

"That is so nice of you, miss. Next time I think I should prepare lessons with you. If you are okay with it."

"No problem, Sir.

"Thank you. Miss, is there water at your place? There is no water at my place." He said. "Yes sir. Did you have your dinner, sir? If not I will prepare."

"I had. I have stored water to prepare it. But I think I should come over to get some water for the morning.

"You are welcome, Sir." We ended the call on the note of him coming over to my place.

I woke up and folded the blankets. Made my bed tidy. Then changed my shirt to a red one and wore a light green thin coat over it to hide my exposed arms. Finally, I stood in front of the mirror, arranged my messy hair, and even applied light lipstick on my lips. I did all this stuff not because I wanted to look beautiful in front of him but because I wanted to be presentable to him. Right after I received a call from him saying he was outside my house. The distance between our houses was not long, take 4 to 5 minutes only.

I went outside and greeted him. He handed me a plastic containing garlic and ginger. "You should not have brought this, sir. I am expecting nothing." I said smiling but I don't know whether he had seen it or not since we were under the cover of a dark sky and I could hardly see his face.

"No, miss. This is nothing. I have quite a lot of these that's why brought some.'' He answered.

"Thank you, Sir." I insisted he has a coffee but he rejected my offer and took his leave directly from outside right after storing water from the tap.

That was the first long conversation we had face-to-face. Since we were under the cover of darkness I could hardly remember his face from that moonless and lightless night. However, I could remember every word we exchanged. Back then I was just blank and didn't realize anything but now when I look back to that moment, I could say that it was the first step closer we had taken and that was the night when the two of us paved a new path to journey on it together. At that time, I was captivated only by the deep sky above us and didn't know I was facing one of the wonders in my world.