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The Eclectic Pen - Moments of Solitude

By: Laron C. (icepigs)   + 5 more  
Date Submitted: 12/28/2006
Genre: Literature & Fiction » Short Stories & Anthologies
Words: 464
Rating:

She quietly slipped out of her uncomfortable shoes and left them lying haphazardly on the floor. Wrapping herself in the afghan knitted by her grandmother years ago, she sat in the oversized chair; tucking her feet up underneath her. The silence was almost absolute. She smiled to herself and closed her eyes. Both hands wrapped tightly around the oversized mug of hot chocolate, the steam gently wafting into the air. The warmth of the mug chased the chill from her fingers. Bringing the hot liquid to her lips, she lightly blew across the top in a vain attempt to cool it down. She pressed the play button on her iPod and immediately the gentle sounds of Beethoven’s piano concerto flowed to her ears. In her solitude, she flipped through the pages of her memory and let her soul fly to paradise. As usual, she traveled back to that wonderful summer she spent traveling the Orient. She felt the warmth of the summer sun as she lay on the beach in Phuket. The tender breeze came across the crystal lagoon waters, keeping the temperature as close to perfect as she had ever seen. She remembered anxiously waiting at the restaurant when the handsome man with the British accent whispered in her ear, “Moments of Solitude.” “What?” she replied. “The secret to keeping your sanity is Moments of Solitude.” He saw her quizzical stare and offered his hand. “Come with me and I will teach you how to truly live life.” The next week was a whirlwind of living and loving. Never before or since had she let herself go with a total stranger. She experienced Thailand in a way she never expected. She relived those moments as the music played in her ears. She ran through the surf with the crescendo and lay naked with her lover as it slowed. Beethoven became the soundtrack for her life. And as it will, the music died. A tear rolled down her cheek as she knew she would never see that stranger again. It was not a tear of sadness, but of thanks for memories that will keep a lifetime. She opened her eyes. The bell rang and she sat the now empty mug down on her desk. Almost regretfully, she removed the ear buds from her ears and turned off her iPod. In one fluid motion, she stood up and slipped her feet back into those uncomfortable shoes. She folded the afghan and put everything away in the small locker just as the door swung open. An obviously frazzled woman walked in the door immediately followed by 15 small children. Exasperated, she said flatly, “I don’t know how you do it. These kids drive me nuts but you always seem so relaxed. How do you keep from going crazy?” With a quick, knowing smile, she quietly replied, “Moments of Solitude.”

The Eclectic Pen » All Stories by Laron C. (icepigs)

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