excerpt from "Sea of Thoughts"

[...]
Facing the board members was the challenge of the day. Nora knew this and got prepared for that accordingly. That day also marked the beginning of a holiday for the young mother and wife. She had been longing for this day for so long now: a few weeks now, maybe a month back already. Everything had been organized with her parents: the grandparents were to pick up the children in the afternoon. Nora's children were delighted, their mother felt relieved.

The presentation ended in the late morning, Nora rushed to her office to pick up some things and she cancelled all her afternoon meetings.

“I've got to leave the city now, guys, let's catch up when I'll be back!”

Staff members looked kindly back at her and their smiles conveyed mutual understanding. Mary coughed and asked gently: “...and when will that be, lady Nora?” with a light smile in her cheek.

“Don't tell me about it, please... in one week time and I just don't want to picture that now!”

Everyone was laughing as Nora left the library building for good.

All bags and luggage were already in the car boot. Nora stepped on the gas and left Stratford along slightly hilly roads leading West towards Lake Huron. The road was just fine since they often went to Point Clark Cape Croker Indian Park with the family. Sometimes during holidays, sometimes only for weekends. Actually, Nora used to do that when her children were still younger. Those times had been different both from a sentimental point of view as generally.

Strangely enough, though, while Nora was driving along Highway 8 her mind was focused on so many things that these dear memories were literally erazed.

“That place is so special...” an inner voice thumbed in Nora's head, “the lakeside and its rocks, the appeasing softness and freshness of the shades, the light breeze” Nora took a deep breath and abruptly shut down the hassle of the radio. Had she not been driving she would have closed her eyes, trying hard to get back into that dream. Obviously she could not do that now, but the inner voice pursued.

“'Tis not a dream, my dear, it is much more! It is a piece of your past: a memory. You've tried so hard to forget it, you were brave and believed you would be able to hold it back and get through with it. But not everything in life is predictable, when it gets to emotions and feelings, everyone could be vulnerable.”

Nora's eyes were wide open at the message she had just witnessed. She pictured the approaching sunset and would take off her sunglasses again and again, trying hard to find the luminosity.

Guilt was Nora's first feeling. She felt guilty because she committed a mistake. Was it truly a mistake, though, was it her mistake? She couldn't tell. Maybe, at a certain time... Nora's husband was a lawyer and it was him who found that job in London, Ontario. Hank's behavior was quite suspicious, though, it was “for professional reasons” that he spent entire weeks over there without even tempting to drive back and see his family. Nora had many doubts and these predicted a rather gloomy future.

“Now why should you feel guilty about that?” Nora scratched her nose as if to awaken her. “You've always done what you had to do: taking care of your children, taking care of your home... But there is something deeper in your soul, something you have to find again and praise!” A satisfied smile shone in the driver's visage. It had been a long time since Nora last smiled, meaning a true smile, coming from the heart.

On the outskirts of Mitchell there was a bunch of wild goose, about thirty birds crossed the skyline and flew over the dark brown Suburban Nora was driving. She loved the elegance and agility of wild goose, the color of their feathers made them all the more majestic. “Now, who was it again who loved these birds too?” the inner voice was back. Nora replied, speaking out loud: “No, it weren't goose only, he was in love with Nature entirely!” Surprised by the sound of her own voice, Nora flushed and kept silent for a minute. “Yes, it was him, Paul is his name...” a voice spoke in the silence of her relief.

“Paul!” Nora shut her mouth quickly, and almost bit her tongue in doing so. She promised she would never speak to herself again.

Point Clarke and its camping along the lake owned many memories, including days dating back to Nora and Paul's childhood. Both teenagers spent a summer there, the last summer Paul had spent in Canada. This was probably part of the reason why Nora had wished so hard to forget about that souvenir. Actually, Nora succeded in doing so, but was that really efficient?

The Suburban was parked next to a table with some benches and a fireplace nearby too. There was a wooden barn with a sign “WC” hanging on its door. Nora stretched her legs and arms and relaxed for a few minutes. The goose had revived long-forgotten memories and the last stretch of the road felt much easier and fun to Nora.

Paul was there again in her thoughts. A simple memory was enough to lift Nora's spirit again. A young teenager in a blue and white skirt, making Nora look slightly more conservative and yet prettier than ever. Her ponytail held her hair out of her face, and guaranteed a girlish look. Paul's image was magnificient to her, such as it has always been. He was often lost in thoughts and appeared as overwhelmed, at a loss in most trivial situations. This was precisely what made him so fascinating, in Nora's eyes.

Then came back images of their one-summer experiences. As they ran across the woods, the difficulties they encountered when setting up their tent, the ride to the camp and so many more.

One morning they left their shelter at dawn, only the first rays of the sun emerging at the far horizon. “Grab your rucksack and let's go!” Paul's voice invited Nora to the journey. Still very tired she followed the boy, unwilling at first. The night before Paul had hidden a canoe in a small bend of the creek. They cast their bags in there as the canoe glided silently unto Lake Huron. Nora's anger rapidly vanished as she realized what a great idea it was to leave that early. Thus they were able to experience so much more: not only the mysteries of an awakening nature but also the collection of so many pictures to illustrate that very day. [...]

© 2016 Matt Oehler