“Are you a nature lover like me?” she asked, her gaze fixed on the rusty leaf flowing across the stream.

“Hmmm, kind of! I love it sometimes. But not when I get those buzzing insect noises or mosquitoes biting my back, lol. ” He answered with his child-like voice.

“Ahhhh… you and your PJs ! Look at that, just look at that leaf and tell me what you feel.”She pointed her finger towards the river stream.

“Peace. I feel this moment, right here, can be captioned as peace. To be honest, the simple leaf in rhythm with the waves defines peace. “

“So true! I mean if the leaf was a little heavier, it would drown. And if the river current was faster pushing it, more than it could take, it would drown and this moment of harmony would never be there! This tranquility is an act of balance between two forces, creating something so magical. Isn’t it amazing?”

“Indeed. How can you think so deeply? I have captured many pictures of nature with my HD camera but never thought about it this way. You have a point. Nature is beautiful.”

She smiled softly. “This is how I feel when you are with me. You and me and this harmony!”

He could not contain his excitement and hugged her tightly between his arms. ” You know I feel the same too. You are my leaf & I am your river!”

“OOOOOUUUCHHHHHHH…. what the fuck! Why would you do that ?” He suddenly screamed with pain and let go of her. Quickly he rubbed his hands on his left buttock.

She raised her hands to show him the sharp-edged twig.

“And this is how I feel when you are with her, that bitch… no wait she is indeed a witch! You think, I do not know! I want someone to tell me that I am their only peace and they would do anything to make me part of their life. Why do you think, I do not deserve this? Do you think, I am any less? Why? Why should I not be considered someone’s forever, someone’s priority? Why can’t I be that flowing leaf? Tell me?”, She revolted!

” Ahhhhh… What are you trying to say?”

“I do not need answers now. I just hope, may you, understand my kind of peace someday and that I was not talking about ‘only’ Nature now.” She fought back a tear as she finished her sentence.

Love,

Chinmayee