The Raven

Chapter One

"Isn't it wonderful? I mean, how it is even possible to have so many colors, when it's only one color really? Pinks, greens, reds, peach, but in reality, it's actually yellow?" Puzzled, he still watched.

"I don't know. It's all so mysterious. It makes me want to learn the hidden secrets of our world." I looked at him, then back.

He propped himself up on his elbow, "Now you don't want to go and do that. No, that would be like reading the end of a thriller without having read the rest of it. It would spoil the book's story. You first need to experience the beginning, and live through the present to have a happy ending." I felt really dazed and confused.

"What are you saying?" He smiled and looked back at the rising sun.

"It always ends here. Always when the sun has almost completely risen. It seems so short, like we haven't enough time. Never enough. Eternity does not seem enough for us. Silver, if you'd just stay with me, then we'd have plenty." He touched my face gently, reassuringly.

"I can't! I have priorities. I'll return, I always do. But please tell me, what do you mean? Explain the riddle!"

He again smiled and kissed my forehead. "Ssh, close your eyes. Only time will tell. You will know, when you are ready."

And with that, the sun rose, blinding everything, and I heard my purring feline.

***********

"Good morning Jinks." I stroked his head and kissed him.

"Meow." He yawns and stretches on my stomach, "Ouch boy. You got to watch your claws."

I sit up and cuddle him close, and purr with him. He rubs his head against my breast and meows. I set him next to me and stand up to stretch. "Meow" he jumps to the floor, gracefully runs to the door, and impatiently stares at me.

"I know bud, give me a minute please" I walk over to my mirror and am shocked by the monster my hair has become. "Well, that's what you'd call sex hair, or a rat's nest." Laughing, I tame the wild beast, and I do the pentagram salute.

"Tuna or salmon, Jinks?" Pawing my leg, he tries, but then fails to climb my leg for the food. "Alright, chill, you can have the tuna, my little grub." As I attempt to squeeze the food into his red, square dish, he dives for the bowl almost knocking the food on the floor. "Well, someone's hungry."

When I walk into my kitchen, on my island in the middle sits a huge fruit basket with a rose and note. I smell the rose, inhaling their wondrous fragrance, and open the note which reads:

Good Morning, love. I hope you are well rested, because tonight is going to be a wild night. I'll send for you around seven. Happy birthday. -Jack

"Awe, he's so sweet." Jinks then jumps on the counter and nudges the basket. "Sorry bud, but that fruit is mine." I take it around to the counter next to the sink and open the window. A May breeze carries in the scent of carnations and marigolds. A red robin flutters about the bird feeders, chirping to its mates, a squirrel chases another up the old willow, and a lovely white swan bathes in the cerulean lake. There is nothing more beautiful than nature being itself. The beauty of life surrounding my house was breathtaking. Quite compelling and unexplainable. Like the Garden of Eden in which no mortal is to ever see. I felt like I was looking through a book of an artist's soul so untold, coded with words ready to be deciphered and awaiting to be told amongst the villagers of the old world. Picturesque.

While so infatuated with the view, I jumped when Jinks came rubbing up against my arm. He gave me a confused look and I had to laugh. "Oh Jinks, don't worry buddy. Just daydreaming as usual, my feline friend." I turned once more to look out to the yard to inhale the scent of my flowers and something grabbed my attention. It looked like a smoky outline of a man. I thought maybe the pollen had gotten to me, but then it appeared to be speaking. But not just speaking, looking at me and speaking directly to me. It was rather unusual to gaze upon. Each limb and contortion of what a man's body would be, was faintly outlined. If I had not been so in-sync with Jinks, my eyes would have never caught it. Then he appeared to be standing right outside the window. He looked me directly in the eyes, and at that moment a name popped into my mind, Adam. Yet just like that, he was gone.