Snow Blooms The Perfect Rose

First Snow

"To appreciate the beauty of a snow flake
It is necessary to stand out in cold"
-Aristotle

A beautiful world unveiled in front of me. I was standing on the top of a green beautiful mountain. My long black hair was swirling in the wind. The wind left a slight shiver in my body. I walked slowly through the grass. I could feel the wet grass, through my bare feet and my dress was so soft that even the slightest wind made it float around me. I moved faster, there l found him, standing under a fig tree, my heart was beating faster. I walked towards him. A song of longing was playing somewhere. I started to run. My long robes floated around me. He is closer. The music got louder. He heard the sound of the rumbling leaves and turned his head. Then, as always, the scene went dark.

I opened my eyes. Sandra, was playing the same old tunes on her violin. I woke up lazily and sat up on my bed, the old clock showed the time as 7. Sandra saw me and stopped. It was her music that always woke me up, putting an end to my beautiful dream. I never said anything because I knew the violin is her world and I loved her more than anyone else. I smiled at her.

"You must change your tunes. This is good, but it's got some problems with my dreams. Always wakes me in the correct time".

Sandra replied with her feeble smile.
"You dream the same thing and I read the same notes".

"Hey, how you know about my dreams?".

"You always smiles in your sleep".

"What does it mean?"

"It is the same face every time. You will be curious and at last there is a smile. Then you hear my song you frowns and then wakes up".

"No, you don't watch me while I am sleeping".

"Let me watch someone having good dreams at least".

Sandra's face fell and went silent.. She stared blankly at the windows and played the same notes again.

It was an October morning. The winter has begun. I had my usual fever, and I was shivering beneath the thick woolen sweater. I stepped into the kitchen to find mom roasting bread and pouring tea. She looks tired. She noticed me shivering and checked my fever.

"Fever again. Stay here Anna, it's cold outside".

"No mom. I have exams next week. It is important".

I left the kitchen and could hear dad's loud snore from his room.

Not because of exams, I hate staying back at home during school days. Moreover, I had the most boring weekend.

Sandra was praying in our room. Her face glow like an angel in the candlelight. I saw a tear dropping down from her closed eyes. She is waiting for me to leave, to throw her tears out. Without disturbing her I quickly changed, tied my hair, took my bag and left the room.

I had half a slice of bread when Sandra entered the kitchen. Mom noticed her and looked at me. It was my job, to lighten the mood. So I asked about dad.

"Let him sleep for another hour. They need him again at 10". Mom replied.

"Why mom? Dad is always there. We have paid our debts. Then why this overtime works?."

"You know his boss. Dad has been working there for years and the debt we have with them can't be paid with money."

"So what? They can find another driver, when dad needs rest. Tell him, mom."

"When was the last time your dad spoke for himself?"

Sandra finished her bread and left the kitchen. I looked at mom. Without words she took our plates and went to the sink.

I stepped out of the house. The garden has bloomed. Colored roses, orchids, daisies all flowered in the cold mist. My favorite red rose was the only one which has not been flowered yet. I tried a lot of manure, all of them failed. I was about to leave when dad came out to collect flowers for the vase.

"Anna, what happened? It's time. I think you had left".

"I am going dad. Tell your boss you are not a machine and you need rest. What happen if you doze off while driving?".

Dad laughed aloud. "I started my job while I was 16. Now I am 51. Never loses my mind while driving."

"And you know you are getting old. Look at you. You worked a lot. Now it is time to rest. "

"Really? I look old". Dad seemed offended.

"No, dad, but you shouldn't work like this. I want to you to be at home, with mom. Our debts are paid and."

As we were talking Sandra passed with a box of nuts to feed the birds and dad mumbled. "No, my debts are not paid, Anna." He smiled and walked away.

I saw Sandra helping the pigeons, out of their box. The bird cried and caressed her with the snouts. I moved towards the gate.