THE OPEN FIELDS

CHAPTER ONE

The sun was blinding.
As I lay on the grass field with my eyes closed my senses were heightened, The animals were all creating some form of their own music compositions. The grass brushed my skin as the wind flowed passed. The wind was nipped by Jack. It was nearly Winter.

This was my form of meditation. Feeling the sun touch my body while listening to all the different surrounding noises. I would come down to the grass field almost every afternoon as a child. Although instead of meditation I used to chase the butterflies. I would run and run, feeling the grass brush my legs, I could never catch up to the butterflies. One day I arrived to the field where I would then find my new source of relaxation. I found it when chasing the butterflies. This time I tried to run faster but soon failed when I tripped over a small log. It wasn't a log really. Turns out that log was going to be my best friend in the future.

His name was Harper. He was two years older then me making him 12. He was very mature for his age. I sat in the grass and started to have a conversation with him. He was very kind and gentle. He didn't get mad when I fell on him, in fact he was more worried about me then himself. I asked him countless questions and one of them was...

"Why are you just laying there?"

His eyes seemed to light up with joy when I asked him.

"I am meditating. Why were you chasing the butterflies?"

I was surprised he asked, he usually just responded to my many questions never asked.

"Because they were beautiful and pretty"

To this day I still remember the whole conversation. I remember him studying my face so intensely. I remember looking at those big blue eyes feeling like I was being pulled into another galaxy.

"Does that mean I should chase you? No. You watch, and maybe just maybe they'll be curious and come and see you. Here lay down with me. Focus on your senses like your breathing and then the sounds around you. What can you hear? When you're ready open your eyes and take in your new surroundings."

Harper put all his passion into explaining it. He was so in depth I knew exactly what he meant.

I lay beside him seeing the grass stand beside me. I closed my eyes and listened. I instantly relaxed hearing Harpers breath, the birds singing, the insects ringing, the wind running through the trees and grass. I opened my eyes and as they adjusted to the blinding afternoon sun, I saw it. I saw them hanging out on the long pieces of grass right above me.

Butterflies.