Tales of a Fabulous Failure

"You're the only angel that got away"

The wind ruffled my hair causing the stray strands to tickle my face. The sun shone down brightly welcoming a warm spring temperature. The park I sat in remained quiet and still.

People don't stop to appreciate parks anymore. It's an act long forgotten.

My hand moved across the sketch book page etching out flowers and trees from the scene in front of me. However, nothing jumped out as important enough to be the center of attention so that part of the page remained blank.

It echoed a mundane truth of life, the decorations are pretty, but there's nothing worth putting your full focus on.

The entire meaning is lost as people gaze focused on the money, fame, or success. What then would I call the meaning of life?

I suppose the ultimate goal is to pay attention to the unimportant details long enough so you avoid the truth- nothing lasts forever.

That's when she arrived, or at least when I noticed her. I had gotten lost in my thoughts while staring at that blank space in the middle.

She sat down calmly, quietly as though the grass was asleep beneath her. Her eyes fixed on me and she smiled.

A smile full of tranquility as if children weren't being murdered or people weren't starving in the streets. I couldn't tell you what compelled me to action, but I began drawing her in the only place I could.

I sketched the freckles on her face, the sun faded pieces of hair, and the scars. The beautiful scars she proudly displayed as trophies from the battles she'd won against her demons.

Gently breezes blew hair into her face, but she didn't react.

A bug buzzed past, but still she sat.

She watched me.

I drew her.

The world kept spinning.

The details, I paid so much attention to the details: every ripple in her shirt, every rip in her jeans, the sunflowers on her fingernails, and the golden earrings that shone in the sunshine.

Triumph rushed through me as I finally finished. Her picture looked perfect to me; I had gotten every detail right.

I looked up excited to show her, but she was gone.

In my determination to get everything perfect, I neglected the fact she had been sitting right in front of me.

I missed the opportunity to change her life.

I missed the opportunity to speak with her.

I missed the opportunity to congratulate her on the war she'd won.

I looked around, the field stretched out in front of me vast and empty.

She was gone.

I had missed her.

Random short thing because why not.