If You Listen To The Wind

A soft breeze swept across the land, slightly rustling the leaves on the trees that surrounded me. It almost sounded like whispering, telling of secrets untold.

Oh what a mystery nature is. My mother had always told me that if you listen to the wind, you could learn how to be truly free.

I never believed her. My sisters and brother mocked her and called her insane, just as the town did. But now I was starting to wonder if what she said was true.

So I sat down here, in this open field, surrounding myself with an array of flowers. Silently thinking, wondering.

If what my mom said was true then where will the wind take me?

I tried to focus on the wind. The way it gently brushed against my skin. Its touch was almost warm, like a tight embrace of a loved one. But it was cold at the same time, a gentle reminder that it won't last forever.

I closed my eyes, trying my hardest to listen to just the wind and nothing else. But the chirps of far of birds kept getting me lost.

How did you listen to the wind? Did it truly speak?

I left that day feeling more like a fool than before. Oh why did I believe my mother? You can't listen to the wind, for it cannot speak. It has no secrets to tell and for sure cannot make you free.

Yet, I ended up there again only days later. Sitting in that field again, trying to listen to the wind. The sweet aroma from the flowers filled my nose. A sweet reminder of home. But once again, I couldn’t hear the wind. Only the doubts that swarmed my mind and the cry of a pained heart.

Day after day, I went back to the field, trying to listen. But I never could hear it.

This is stupid. I told myself as I sat down in the field once more. I will never hear the wind.

But still I tried. I listened for hours, watching as the sun rose high into the sky and as it slowly began to fall once again. I listened till I could no longer stand it.

But just as I went to leave, I heard it. A soft gentle voice whispering with the wind.

“Never has one been so patient.” The voice said.

I dared not to open my mouth in reply. I was too scared to lose it now that I've found it.

“Voiceless? I understand your shock. You think of yourself as a fool. Does so the world.”

I stayed silent. It spoke the truth. I've been scorned and mocked beyond belief. Finally I gained the courage to speak.

“My mother spoke of learning to be free of I listened to the wind.” I said softly, “How?”

“Ah, a good question indeed.” The voice purred, “I am afraid I cannot answer it.”

“Cannot or will not?” I asked.

There came no reply, only the soft whisper of wind.

“Are you the wind?” I finally whispered.

“Nay,” They replied, “I am your constant companion, watching over you until the night falls.”

“How do I listen to the wind?” I asked.

“Be patient you will hear the eind when the time is right for it.”

“But how do I know?”

“How does one know when it's his time to leave this world behind?”

“He doesn't.” I replied, “Not til it's time.”

“Ah, so there's your answer.”

And once again, I was left in silence. A new found understanding in my mind, but still doubt in my heart.

Why should listen to the wind? For it cannot speak. Not even a whisper.

For three days I did not return to the field. I tried to ignore the thoughts about listening to the wind. I knew it could not speak. It only spoke to those who were insane enough to think that it did.

Yet, I was drawn to the field. It made me disgusted in myself. I had already made myself a fool, why should I try to listen to the wind? It knew nothing of being truly free.

That is until it did.

I went back to the field, years after I had heard the voice of the shadow. I had nothing left to lose. My home and life were at a loss. I had nothing left other than the burden of my pain.

I sat down in the circle of flowers, and closed my eyes. I begged to hear the voice if the wind. I wanted to listen to the wind and hear what it had to tell. I wanted to be free.

There came a new voice this time. One more deep than the shadows.

“I've never seen one so lost.”

I opened my eyes and looked to the sky.

“I am not lost.” I lied.

“You shouldn’t lie to yourself like that.”

“I'm not lying.”

“Then why are you here, may I ask?”

“I am here to learn to be truly free.” I replied.

“Free from what?”

I thought for the longest time.

“If you do not know what you are trying to get free from, then how do you know you are trapped?”

I pondered that for a minute then asked, “Are you the wind?”

“No,” came the reply, “I am the shelter you hide under when the sun becomes too much. I am the food that you eat to survive another day.”

“When will the wind speak to me?”

“When the time is right you will know.”

“How will I know when the wind speaks to me?” I asked, “I've already been mistaken twice.”

“How do one know who her true friends are?”

“She knows because they are always there when she needs them the most.”

“Yes. But does she have friends who may not be as they appear?”

“Most likely.”

“Then has she been deceived?”

“In a way.” I admitted, “But what has this to do with my question?”

“Everyone gets lost. But you have to get lost to get found.”

Then I was left in silence once more. I pondered what the trees told me. Then I left.

I went back day after day to the field again. Watching as the sun rose and slowly began to fall behind the mountains. But nothing came. So I left.