The Sound of Silence

We sit in your house, alone, just the two of us. We play, we laugh, we play some more. Wishing the day will never end. And yet, I dread the future, the day we have to live on our own. 

I scoop some porridge into bowls while you set bread in the toaster. We sit in the silence, chewing away. Very soon, this will be our daily routine.

There's a sound at the door. Mail drops through the door slot. Bills. One day we'll have to pay them ourselves. 

We look at each other and smile awkwardly. One day we'll be working to put food on the table.

I giggle nervously. We're almost adults.

This is your house, not mine. It's the first time I've been here, and yet I feel this place is ours. Just the two of us. Outside, the wind howls, overturning flower pots and pushing trees about. Inside, we are safe. Warm. We have each other. The house is quiet. 

You finish first and clear your plate. I continue to slowly sip. And think.

The phone rings. You let it ring. We swim in the cacophony until your answering machine picks up. Savour the sound. The silence is overwhelming. 

Finally, I scoop the last of your cooking into my mouth. We place our dishes in the sink. We can get to them later. Time flies by. We sit the afternoon away, just you and I and your couch.

Soon we will fend for ourselves. I wonder what we'll truly become. 

We sit in your house, just the two of us, feeling like adults. And then your father comes home at five and the spell is broken. 

For now.

This Cruel Yet Beautiful World

When asked, some people may associate this world with Hell. They would list off all the horrific events that they hear. They might tell you about the current world conflicts, the various diseases, the crimes occurring around the city. These people might only see the dark side to every shadow, the emptiness of every glass. Or rather, they choose to only see these things.

Some people may claim this world to be a wonderful haven. They could list all the wonderful things they are grateful for. They might talk about old friends, a loving family, good health, a steady income. These people see the light that produces the shadow, the milk in the half-full glass.

Now who is more right? Perhaps the answer is not clearly black or white.

Yes, the world is full of cruelty, but it is also full of beauty. Each thing has its own time and place, whether it is good or bad. Sometimes we need to sit in the darkness, and sometimes we need the strength of the light. Life has its ups and downs, and it is only when we brave the storms that we can see the sunrise. Sometimes the glass is half empty, and other times it is half filled. It depends on the day.

Though some people choose to filter out the good or the bad, a true life experience includes both sides of the coin. Blocking out one thing or another does not make it go away. Just as a day includes both night and day, life includes both the good and the bad. The bad are what teach life lessons, after all.