The Wylie Diaries : Where The Flowers Bloom

Chapter Twelve : Stay Close To Me

"Sadness gives depth. Happiness gives height. Sadness gives roots. Happiness gives branches. Happiness is like a tree going into the sky, and sadness is like the roots going down into the womb of the earth. Both are needed, and the higher a tree goes, the deeper it goes, simultaneously. The bigger the tree, the bigger will be its roots. In fact, it is always in proportion. That's its balance." 

― Osho

Reading the last few lines of that text really struck a cord with me. It's difficult to comprehend the nature of life and its end, it's something that has never really been explained even though it happens on a daily basis. Laying in bed, listening to the breathing of Tyler as he falls asleep and enters the dream world. I lay my head on his chest, matching his breathing pattern, our inhale and exhales happening at exactly the same time. I feel myself drifting off, allowing the feeling to over take me. Soon enough I fall asleep.

Opening my eyes, Tyler appears to be still asleep beside me. It's Ruby's first day at pre-school today. We still can't figure out where the time has gone, it feels like only yesterday that we were in the hospital and holding her as a new born baby.

"Tyler" I say, nudging him to wake up.

"Huh?" he groans.

"It's seven o clock, we have to get Ruby to school and go to the mechanic remember".

"Okay, Okay, I'm coming" He says, rolling out of bed and walking over to the bathroom.

I get out of bed and begin to walk to Ruby's room, slowly turning the door handle on the door so she isn't startled.

"Ruby it's time to get up for school"

She tosses and turns for a few seconds before she replies.

"Already? Okay i'm getting up now" She says, pulling the covers off herself and sitting on the edge of the bed looking at the ground.

"We have thirty minutes before we have to leave, make sure you get your clothes on and everything you need packed in your bag" I say, motioning to the bag left next to her bed from the previous night.

I was excited to see Ruby go off to school. She had been talking about it a few weeks ago, saying how she was nervous to be left alone with complete strangers for a few hours but excited to meet different children, children from all walks of life. Although the area we live in is amazing, it doesn't provide Ruby with the social skills that a child should have, as other children do not live around here. She often has to play with herself instead of others because there is nobody around.

I walk around the house, making sure that we have everything we need before we set off to drop Ruby off and go to the mechanics. I check on Tyler in the bedroom, just to make sure that he is ready.

"Tyler? You ready yet?" I ask.

"Yeah, just brushing my teeth" he mumbles, the words barely audible from the amount of water and toothpaste in his mouth.