He entered her world with the power and magnitude of an unleashed hurricane. She heard her heart cry out a warning. She flew to secure the gates of the fortress guarding her heart. She was too late. Like the winds of a powerful storm, his words pushed against the gates. He entered her secure world and its protecting fortress.

Like a hunter, he relentlessly pursued her. Still she resisted as she watched her fortress wall that took years to build, crumble around her. His voice was like thunder as he proclaimed to the world and all who would listen, his love for her. The earth shook with each of his words.

Soon, like the doe caught in the headlight, she found herself mesmerized. She felt her heart flying to his. She felt her spirit merge with his. She felt the magic of his love and love's promise. Together their spirits soared to the stars and beyond.

But like all storms, the power weakened. The forceful winds became breezes. Soon all was still in her world. No wind to carry her spirit to the heavens, no thunder from his words to make the earth quake. All was silent....as she looked about at the crumbled fortress wall that failed to protect her heart.

She felt her heart return, bruised and aching. Her spirit was heavy, no more did it soar to the stars. She let out a sigh as she picked up the first stone to rebuild her fortress wall...

Too weary to lift the stone, she rests upon it. She looks to the skies and feels the warmth of the sun upon her face. She listens to the music of the winds and the songs of life and a smile comes to her heart and her spirit rises.

She lifts the stone, not to build a fortress wall, but to build a stairway. A stairway to the heavens. A stairway to catch the eagle and soar above the levels of life. Again her heart sings a happy song and her spirit flies with the eagles............

She pulled into her driveway thinking how good it felt to be home. She was glad the night was over. She unlocked the door as she had a thousand times before. As the door opened, there was her friend and companion of nearly ten years. She looked at her dear friend, remembering long ago when she was only a puppy. She set her things down, hugged her loving friend and thought how quiet it was. She shrugged her shoulders...it's been like this for years, nothing new here. "No hugs and 'hi honey, how was your night?' to greet me", she said thinking out loud. Shaking herself free from her thoughts, she set about her usual routine. She fed her friend, gave her fresh water and put on a pot of coffee.

Before she changed out of her uniform, she stepped outside. She marveled at the beauty of the sky, felt the warmth of the sun on her face and the cool breeze that played with her hair.A smile came to her as she watched the squirrels play tag, first in the grass, then up and down the tree. She laughed aloud as her friend tried to join them. "Looks like neither of us is as quick as we used to be", she said. With that, she went into the house.

Again she felt the silence. It touched her this time, leaving a chill in her heart. She shivered as she walked down the hall to her room. She decided to fire up her computer and check her mail before changing. She smiled and greeted her computer. The "Packman" was always there. She typed in her password and soon she heard her mail call. She went for a cup of coffee and her cigarettes. Back at her desk, she sat down and began to read her mail. Some made her laugh and some made her weep. She signed off thinking of the miles separating her from those dear to her.

As she entered her room, the silence greeted her again. This time it brought a friend...emptiness surrounded her. She stood there fighting back the tears. She wanted...NO, she needed to be with the ones she loved. Silently she prayed her tears would wash away the loneliness that invaded her world. Silently she wished her tears would wash away the miles, magically transport her to the ones she loved. She longed to hear their voices, their laughter and feel the warmth of their hugs.

The sound of thunder interrupted her and her thoughts. She wiped the tears from her eyes, she whispered thank you to Mother Nature. She listened to the voices of the thunder people and thought of distant drums. Deep within her heart, she knew the ones she loved also heard the distant drums. She knew they heard her message, a simple message, "I love you".

Snow flakes raced across her windshield, until a gust of wind caught them. Then they chased each other around in circles, round and round like children on a play ground. She smiled. Oh how she loved the snow! Dancing, sparkling, swirling, singing, laughing snowflakes...she loved them!

The highway stretched out in front of her like a black satin ribbon. On either side of the ribbon, the happy snow flakes fell into an ever thickening blanket of snow. She rolled down the window. Oh how wonderful the cold crisp air felt against her cheeks. She felt exhilerated. The playful wind took advantage of the open window and tossed a handful of cool, crystalline flakes at her.

Suddenly, she was blinded by a bright light. She felt something warm on her  face. She struggled to open her eyes. Slowly things came into focus. As she became aware of her surroundings, she realized she saw a green carpet. Grass instead of snow. The bright light and warmth was the sun on her face. She looked up to see the blue sky and huge white fluffy clouds. Gazing at the clouds, she thought of the cold playful snow flakes. Slowly she closed her eyes and returned to the land of the black ribbon and the soft white blanket.

She loved the night. It greeted her like an old friend. She felt the velvety softness wrap itself around her. Tonight was a special night, it was raining. She loved the sound and the smell of the rain. The raindrops played a song for her as they bounced against the window. She could hear their laughter as they raced each other to the bottom. She looked beyond the dancing raindrops to see a curtain of crystal beads swaying in the wind. She watched the curtain sway this way and that with the changing wind. She turned her attention back to the music. It reminded her of distant drums. She listened closely, hearing the familiar voice of a far away friend. A special friend who stopped and said hello on a quiet, rainy night...

It was the music. The music brought them together, introduced them. He was a little shy when it came to talking to women, but he liked her. He thought she was special and she liked the music. He didn't want her to leave. So, they talked about the music and their love for the music. She was so easy to talk to, like he had known her for a long time. 

Funny, but from that day on, he found himself looking for her every where he went. He couldn't get her out of his mind. He wanted to talk to her again. She was friendly, funny, bright, honest and open. He wanted to see her and talk to her so very much. 

He hadn't seen her for quite a while, he thought she had gone out of his life. He still couldn't get her out of his mind. The thought of her went every where he did. It didn't matter where he was, something always reminded him of her. He found himself missing her. 

One night he happened to be out, just browsing thru the music, thinking he might find something new to listen to. Concentrating on the titles, he didn't notice the woman at his side who was also sifting thru the music. Just by chance he saw her out of the corner of his eye. His heart skipped a beat. It was HER! The woman who occupied his every waking thought was standing next to him. He wanted to talk to her. He wanted to say something, but it had been so long since they talked. Would she even remember him? 

Before he could gather his thoughts, she turned to him and smiled. She said hello and asked how he had been. She remembered him to his surprise. He started to talk, to answer her question and found the words flowed. Oh how he missed talking to her. What made her so different? Before he realized it, hours had passed. He was tired, but didn't want to leave. She must've sensed he was tired, so she said goodnight and said they would see each other again. 

See each other they did. Night after night, they met and talked and laughed and listened to the music. Finally, his heart could take it no longer. He wanted this woman to share his life with him. So, he asked her and again to his surprise, she said yes. She loved him. 

They started to plan their life together, the one they would share. Oh how beautiful the dreams of lovers are. Theirs was no different. All they could see was the happiness their love had brought them and the promise of more happiness to come. They had all of the time in the world. 

The happiness they shared was short lived. He was suddenly taken away from her, thru no fault of his own. All of the plans and dreams were washed away in an instance. She thought it was all a nightmare and she would awaken and find all as it had been. This was not to be. 

Months went by and she thought of him often, especially when she heard the music. She remembered the laughter and the secrets and their plans. She missed him so and prayed for his return. 

One day, while browsing thru the music, a man walked up and stood by her side. Instead of looking at the music, he was looking at her. She turned and saw the man, their eyes met. He had returned to her. This time it was she who didn't know what to say. Before she could utter a word, he said it for both of them..... "I love you." Their love and dreams had returned and together they listened to the music once again. 

Inside the cabin, by the warmth of the fire, a woman rocks gently in her chair. She hums a nondescript tune as her hands busily weave an intricate web. Her long silver hair is braided and reflects the colors from the fire. Her braids lay softly on her shoulders tied with brightly colored ribbons. Her face wore the signs of having seen many seasons, but her eyes were those of a young girl. They sparkled with the essence of youthful love.

She rubbed her hands together gingerly. The gentle rain outside brought an ache to her joints. She looked to the rain and listened to its music. A secret smile crossed her aged lips as she remembered other rainy days in another time. She whispered softly to no one, "We will once again run together through the wet grass and laugh."

The fire was burning low, allowing a chill to creep into the air. Pulling her shawl around her, she added wood to the fire. She thought of another time when the fire would turn to glowing embers and they only needed each other to chase away the chill.

He said they would be together forever. Forever is such a short time. She remembered the tall, brown warrior who rode away on that dreadful day. He said, "Wait for me. I will return for you." Wait she did and would not let another lay with her for he had her heart and her soul. Today was the day he would return for her, she knew it in her heart.

After adding wood to the fire, she heated the water. She bathed, then scented her hair and her skin. She opened an old chest and carefully unfolded her dress. She stepped into it and brought it up around her shoulders. Her old hands fumbled with the laces but managed to get them fastened. She slipped into her moccasins, brushed her hair and smiled.

Returning to her chair, she finished weaving the web. Laying it aside, she felt very tired. Slowly she closed her eyes and rested. She must have fallen asleep to the gentle rhythm of the rain, for the next sound she heard was his voice. 

He gently touched her cheek and smiled. As she reached for his hand, he swept her into his arms. A tear slipped down her cheek and she smiled to be held by her warrior again. They held each other so closely, it was as if they were one. Tilting her head, she looked into the face of the warrior to whom she had given her heart so many moons ago.

As they opened the door to leave, she turned to look around this place that she had called home for so many years. She would miss this place, but it was time to leave. Her eyes took in everything they could. And, in the chair, next to the fire sat an old woman who’s warrior had returned for her.

They had been planning his journey home for such a long time. They had talked several times of what their life together would be like. He spoke of sitting on the porch together, sipping coffee and holding her, watching and listening to the rain. All of the things people in love would do when they share a life.

As the time came nearer for him to begin his journey home, he seemed so excited and anxious to get started. Then one night, she asked him half jokingly if he was romancing another and he said yes. What a feeling of relief she felt! She had been agonizing over how she was going to tell him she no longer loved him. How could she tell him there was nothing to come home to. He was so far away and she didn’t want to hurt him.

So after he told her, she reacted with anger and hurt. That was what he expected she thought, so that was how she reacted. So she pretended to be a woman scorned. Even telling a mutual friend how hurt she was. Deep inside she was singing. This dark cloud which hung over her heart had been lifted. She did not have to face the task of telling him she was in love with another. 

Now she could get on with her new life and not feel the guilt of having betrayed one who was once close to her heart. They had been soulmates at one time, but that time had vanished long ago. She would miss him, but that was to be expected. She wished him a good life and happiness. She hoped he had found the joy that she had found. 

This chapter of her life was now closed. On to a new one and into the arms of one who truly loved her. But her heart knew she was telling herself a lie. If the truth were known, she missed him. He was her soulmate. He was her life force. He was her spirit's heart and inspiration. Her heart whispered to her, but she wouldn't listen. Her heart wept and asked her to wait, her true love would be back. He was infatuated and it would not last. Her heart knew.