Kaleidoscope

Motif 2 : Flecked

October 8

A sliver of the sun's golden rays managed to break in through the window and land on the empty seat opposite of mine. I could see the tiny speckles of dust and the other unknowns swiveling in the light. I was at some local diner, situated conveniently near the campus, hoping to indulge in an early breakfast. It was the first weekend of the semester break and most of the student population had gone to visit their family but I had decided to stay behind to continue with my research and spend my time wandering the city and recording its dread beauty through my camera lens.

I've always loved watching dust in the hazy light . It always seemed as though they were dancing to a tune of their own .

Left , Forth , Right and Back . Disappear .

It brought back a certain memory of mine from when I was a child.  My parents and I had made it a habit to have breakfast at a similar diner before taking me to my football coaching every Sunday morning. The reminiscence seems so long ago and time has definitely played its part. Though the memory vague, I remember that on one such Sunday, while my dad had gone out to speak to a friend of his, leaving me and my mom to be, she observed me staring at those miniscule speckles in the golden ray that occupied its place on the table, with curiosity and amazement. She then leaned towards me and whispered,

"It's magic you know?." And when I turned to her puzzled, she only smiled gently before continuing.

"The small things you see dancing around, it's the magic of the universe darling."

My eyes bulging a fraction more to the size of a big pearl, my mouth open wide, I naively asked her in an equal whisper,

"The Universe can do magic ?."

She chuckled gently. "The universe can do magic and so much more. The sun, the moon, the stars above, the ocean, the grass, the trees below, are all magic of the universe. Even us, in a way are the result of this magic. The universe can give people life, it can give people love, and immeasurable happiness, it can bond two unknown strangers and blossom many beautiful relationships."

I reflected deeply, my little mind pondering on what she had said to me but I was quickly reminded of the recent loss of grandfather Phil. I frowned,

"But if the universe can give life, does it also have the power to take life away just like it did with grandpa Phil?"

She looked a bit taken aback by my frank question but answered nevertheless with a light smile treacherously tainted with a tinge of sadness,

"Yes it can. What it gives, it also takes. But always remember that the universe does not function  without reason and in the end everything will fall in its place. We aren't capable of deciphering its code, for it is beyond our capability and that is why we dare to have faith and hope. But the only thing you have to remember for now is to not lose the magic that the universe has put inside of you."

I slowly tried to digest the big words she had fed me before asking her again,