Perfection

The wind chimes reminded me of her house. When she died two years ago, I lost my last remaining connection to my family's past. The reminder was sweet.

The fire burned brightly, long into the night. The logs of crisped birch snapped repeatedly when it melted into ash as the flames shot high into the night sky. The constant crackling of the logs evolved into a rhythm - a constantly evolving beat, with surprising crescendos of destruction reverberating over us when each log changed its shape under the intense heat of the fire. The aroma of the musky wood, billowing every which way, filled our lungs with a warmth in stark contrast to the strong and pungent aroma we took in throughout the night. The altered state of bliss created was a release. For so long, I was afraid to release myself this way for fear it would take me back to when it controlled me. The aroma freed us from our senses - but in reality, it freed our senses from us. No longer prisoners to our perspective - our problems and worries - the open air rejuvenated our spirit. We have never been so free.

Overlooking a chasm of wood, we could see over the water and beyond the natural contrast of the land meeting up with it on the other side. Despite the darkness, we could see the reflection of natural light on the still pool. We looked up, following the embers that rose gently into the night sky, it felt like we were drifting up with them - letting the wind and the air currents pull them in every which direction before they burnt themselves out. As they extinguished, the stars just beyond them spun into a celestial maelstrom - pulling their light into an eye - at the centre - which was the spindle around which the light turned. The dizzying affect of the stars wrapping themselves into a whirlpool of light made it seem like we were looking at the face of G-d, and all of Her creations. They are all so beautiful. The light pulled us closer to her. The light - amidst the darkness here on earth.

The incessant laughter of friends broke the silence, but as the echoes faded, the silence returned. Every loon call was clear. Each breath of wind would make the chimes sing - and remind me of her again. Her chimes were so simple - and yet brought her so much joy. Their song was so sweet - the perfect balance of faint unnatural ringing imposed against the natural backdrop of the wild. It was so unnatural that it fit right in.

I waited to exhale. Drawing breath through my nose, the rich crispness of the deep forest gave me life. I could smell the evergreens, I could smell the dew, and I could see the temperature when I couldn't hold my breath in any longer. The surroundings changed our perspective. The surroundings set us free.