My Paradise

My Paradise-- part six

My Paradise-Part Six

Many days have past, since the metal guard's first visit. Unfortunately it wasn't his last. Everyday he comes by between high-noon and two. Everyday he interrupts my harmonious life with the clanking of his armored feet.

Today wasn't any different. While having my afternoon tea and reading, the guard interrupts with soft raps on my door. My eyes roll, I sigh silently, before calling out, "it's open." Clink, clink. You would think I would be used to that sound by now, but I'm not. As a matter of a fact, that sound annoys me dearly.

Clank, clank-SQUEAAAK!! Everyday the guard stops right in front of the bookshelf and causes my floor to whine. At this, I stand up and walk over to where he is standing.

Without realizing it, I start studying him. The way he stands reminds me of a trained dictator, that can stand for hours without moving, never getting tired , like a statue with blinking eyes. His shoulders are thrown back, broad, supporting the heavy armor he is forced to wear, also statue-like. The only thing you can see is his eyes. You can barely even see those, for the helmet the is wearing has a cover with slits over the eyes. This guy is filled with mystery.

"Miss? What are you staring at?" The guard's question causes me to snap out of my studying. I stutter out a made up answer and turn my head to face the bookshelf.

Time passed but we just stood there like statues with blinking eyes. He is either has fallen asleep or is riding his own train of thought. For when I slip back to my chair, he does not budge. Seconds pass into minutes and those pass like milliseconds. For my Wuthering Heights is reaching up to it's climax. Before Heathercliff returns to Cathy, so they can confess their love , knowing that Cathy is already married, I look up, to check on the dead snake skin guard, who is standing so still that it reminds me of a statue with blinking eyes. I put down the dramatizing Wuthering Heights and go to tap the mysterious solider on the shoulder. When he turns to me and says,

"Don't bother Miss, for I have not fallen asleep or been ignoring you . I have been studying you. Even with a stranger in your midst, you live on. Plus you don't fake being nice, you are simply you." Luckily I am standing behind him when he says this, for my face has leprechauns of shock dancing on it. The guard then goes back to being an Easter Island statue.

Time flies by again and the guard leaves but the waves of mystery do not follow him out.

Another day trickles on, the guard comes, but says he can not stay for there has been an update in his case. So since, I have nothing to clean or dust, I grab my flip-flops and hoodie.

The beach is calling my audience. Even with the sun sitting in the middle of the sky, the heat is tolerable. The breeze that is blowing is soft gentle and caresses my skin, leaving a silk like smooth feeling upon my skin.

Breath in...Breath out....Sighhh....

The beach is very calming, just the medicine that the doctor called for. The relaxing waves, pound a rhythm in a gentle tone, making a lovely, likeable lullaby even more hypnotic. The gullible seagulls chime on their squawks, creating the gentle voices that fit into the lovely likable lullaby. Soon I am swaying, my eyes closing, the lovely likeable lullaby is working, cooing me into a relaxed mood.

I don't know how long I stood there listening to a Nature's likeable lullaby, but I know it has been a while. For the tide is slowing and the sun is about go into a gorgeous falling scene, that no computer program could make look better. This scene is a perfect demonstration, of what is Nature's pure, simple, exotic beauty. It is breath-taking to look at in a photograph, but it is intoxicating to be standing there, admiring Nature's beauty in person. No beauty can compare. Nothing else can make you stop and stare, and not make you feel stupid later. For Nature's beauty is not something that can be replicated, not in a picture, not in anything, not ever. This beauty is so simple but yet so powerful at the same time. This will consume every thought in your mind, it will give you a bubbly feeling that only children carry around, all the time.

Now thanks to this beauty, my mind has been set free of the mysterious stranger's face. His eyes no longer taunt me, his daunting face no longer haunts the shadows of my mind. I thank Nature's beauty, for once again giving me something that nothing else could. The gift is freedom.

Then for an odd reason, I get this child-like urge to go run and dive into the ocean. So I do. My feet sprint to the spot where I can dive, without hurting myself. I keep my eyes open, so that I may see the Ocean's nightlife. But I am quickly disappointed. For there are no colorful fish swimming, no jellyfish to be scared of, and no stingrays to swim with. There is nothing, they aren't even any sharks to worry about. Disappointed I come up from below the surface of the water, only to have the smell of smoke feel my nose. I quickly cover my mouth and take a deep breath and dive back into the water. I swim until I touch shore, and then dash into the woods, my hoodie covering my mouth.

A normal person's instincts would lead them home, but mine were leading to the cause of the smoke. I only stop when I arrive at my destination. I hide behind a tree and bush. Sitting behind the tree and the bush , the only things I can make out are; there are guards, a girl, and a house on fire. The main guard is yelling at the girl, something about lying and deceiving him...

SMACK-The guard hits the girl, hard. Tears cascades down the girl's face. Her words become blubberish. You can't understand her, for her sobs drown out her pronunciation.

Thwart- Another burning torch get thrown on to the blaze. More sobs escape the girl's body. My own eyes fill up with tears.

I go to make my presence known, but someone holds me back. It's the DRIVER!!!! His face displays true terror, as if he is scared for his life. While the guard is yelling again, the driver whispers to me.

"MmmiiMiiisssttrreeesss, I don't know you, but hear my plea. My plea is, for your own sake, stay hiding, those are very, very dangerous men." My eyes widen with fright, the driver senses he need not go on. Being scared out of my wits, I lie low to the ground, and try not to make a sound. Then the main guard stops yelling and speaks to his crew of metal. His voice sounds so familiar as if I heard it before. I turn to say something to the driver, but he has vanished, again, leaving me all alone, again. At this note, I sneak quietly away.

When I know I am far enough away from the cruel scene, I sit down and cry silently. What have I done? What has one night, filled with dances and mystery, caused? Before heading home, I go back to the beach. I flop down on the, still warm, sand and stare at the shiny stars. Each one shines differently than another. As I lay here, I hum "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." This calms me enough, so that I can feel my home. I stumble through the woods, feeling all the leaves as I go.

I soon find my way home. Squish- A single red rose sticks to the bottom of my flip-flop. I scurry inside, and lock my door behind me. I even double lock it. I check it twice before I crank my music loud enough to blast out any other sound on Earth.

I gather my pj's and shower materials and I hop into the shower. It is only ten minutes long. I go to put the bathroom cleaner back underneath my kitchen sink, when I notice the bouquet of flowers scattered on my floor. Someone must have shoved through my mail slot. They are the exact same flowers that I had dropped back in the garden.