When she got home, fish cakes in the fridge, she flopped down in her armchair and picked up her Mandala colouring in book. She needed a new page. Slowly she opened her colours and selected a couple- vibrant orange and an icy turquoise. There in the centre she placed the first dot of orange. It glowed with promise. There was always something magical about the first dot of colour on the white page.
Zoe thought about the ancient scribes, the monks and nuns who had spent their days illuminating manuscripts. It sounded a good life - peaceful, grounded. No insecurities about their faith or their purpose for being. Moving her pen around the first swirls and dots, she began to relax for the first time that day. The bewildering ranges of the pattern began to fall into place. 'If only life was like this', she thought. If only I could see the pattern emerging with such clarity.
The warmth of the orange gave way to the intensity of the turquoise - complementing. Then came green, and dots of brilliant yellow. A little way around a purple pattern at the edge she paused. Her neck and back were aching. It was time for a break. She lifted her eyes and looked out of the window. The early rain had stopped. Sun was pressing on the cloud and bringing life to the bush beside her window. Next door a camélia bush flowered with little vivid pinpricks of pink.
Life felt good - simple, authentic. She remembered the fish cakes in the fridge and realised she was hungry. She remembered her friend and moved towards her phone, but stopped. They could wait a little longer. No more complexity just now- just the next simple step - a frying pan, the smell of salmon and dill, a fresh, crisp salad.
YOU ARE READING
Space Between
Aktuelle LiteraturZoe wants to live her life differently. She decides to only act in the spaces in between the expected moments of her days. This is what happens.
