A Series of Observations

The crystalline water had captivated the mind of the woman, its hues deepening as the water does. If she were a painter, she would paint nothing but this image. A world so little discovered yet holding so much promise and wonder.

Along the shore she believed herself too separated from its persistent call, and as she walked along the paths of the island, she discovered more and more of its miracles. Fishes of exotic colors and patterns followed at her feet, streams beckoning her home once again.

She followed the song of the flowing streams, unquestioning their direction or her purpose in doing so. A warm breeze caressed her face and tossled her hair, its breath a welcome hello, as if coming from the island itself.

The man had arrived on a large ship only that morning, following the trails of a treasure he had long lost. He went from place to place on the main port, collecting any memories or information that could aid his search.

The day was passing quickly, but the man had yet to give up entirely. An old woman from the apothecary had pointed him in the direction of the paths that led to the center of the island, where a large volcano stood. The woman told him an ancient story of the island, where at its heart sat a pool that once belonged to their Gods, and the inhabitants of the island believed its waters still safely held remnants of their power.

The old woman instructed him to this water, and as he approached it, to take some of its power in his hands and speak his wish to be carried to the Gods, and then drink from the pool. Should his heart wish true, without malice or deceit, the Gods would grant his wish.

He accepted this adventure willingly and with only half of the day remaining, he wasted no more time and set off.

The woman was guided to the opening of a large cave. She had visited here many times before but had yet to complete the ritual. She did not believe it possible to be blessed by the Gods to have what she lost returned to her, because she believed that what she lost chose to leave, which should be honored even if it broke her heart.

She stood at the water’s edge, as she had many times before. The woman heard whispers from the Gods when she stood here, not just in encouraging her to come, but encouraging her to ask.

They wondered why she feared, why she hurt. Often the Gods would invite her to swim in its depths, held in their embrace. Today was much the same.

“I do not know.” She responded, each time the same.

“Come.” They called.

She stepped off the shore, entering the comforting depths of the pool. It was a rarity, this cavern. Millions of years ago it had been a monstrous volcano and it had once erupted, destroying the back part of the island, forcing inhabitants to relocate.

Yet after that day the volcano sat quiet, and it was many more years before the keepers of the island saw that what remained inside was nothing short of a miracle.

No longer would the volcano threaten the lives of the keepers with its flame and destruction. It now sat hollowed, with the glowing Gods Pool at its center, and its horn blown wide open to receive the sky. The island was blessed from that day on, and many wishers came to seek its blessings for themselves.

The woman swam in its depths and knew its magic could sense her heart, her soul. In that moment all she asked for was peace.

The man felt as though he was walking in circles. Perhaps the old woman had set him on the wrong path intentionally.

The man paused and took in a long breath of the humid air. Though challenging, he did not feel defeated, and in his moment of calm he felt the wind change on his cheek. A cool breeze that rivaled the heavy weight of the water-logged air that cocooned the island. With that breeze came an even softer whisper, though he could not make out the words.

On instinct, he changed his course and now followed a gentle stream, one of many that he believed would originate from the center of the island. The shallow streams held frogs and fish and lizards, each that seemed to look at him knowingly. He trusted in their instincts to aid his own.

Quickly he approached the cave opening, its wide mouth black as night. The whisper in the wind remained, its cool touch a relief, and it urged him to go on, to trust.

He walked forward blindly, his eyes quickly adjusting to the dark of the earth that surrounded him. He followed the only path before him, and the whisper grew louder. Though still incoherent, somehow its meaning was clear.

You have come.

The man walked to the edge of the pool, its glow beckoning him closer. The whisper had gone silent, giving him space to continue without interruption.

He understood now what a miracle it was for such a place to exist and stared at the space as if to account for every detail. The opening of the volcano revealed that the day was closing, the vibrant hues of the sky melding with the blue of the water, casting the walls with irreplicable artistry.

The man knelt at the water’s edge and remembered the words of the old woman. He cleansed his skin from the journey with the refreshing coolness of the water and began the ritual.

Taking water in both his hands, he brought it to his lips as if to drink, but first he spoke softly the words of his wish and poured all his hope and desire into each syllable. He waited to see how the water would change, if at all, and when nothing happened, he further brought his hands to his lips and drank.

The Gods Pool water was unlike anything he had ever known. As it travelled through his body, it was as if every part of his body shot awake, an awareness and sense of strength barreling through him. The woman warned him that should that happen, it would be a good sign, the Gods were blessing him in that moment. She also told him that he would fall into a brief sleep where the Gods would speak to him in his dreams.

He laid his head down on a patch of moss that grew amongst the rocks of the volcano and dreamed.

The woman had swum with the whispers of the Gods for quite some time, and they brought her to the center of the pool, where a small island sat and upon it a single tree grew.

She laid herself on the bank of the little island and stared up at the evening sky through the branches of the trees. Her eyes grew heavy, and she knew what this meant, but she swore she would not compete the ritual until she was ready. The gods must have used her time swimming as an offering, and they believed her ready before she did. Powerless, she succumbed to the calls of sleep, and dreamed.

Her dream came in brief images of the future. Hands that always found each other, the sound of a deep laughter, the tight embrace of someone who returned to her each night. She woke up just as heartbroken as before, and she believed the ritual had failed her.

The man dreamed of the past, long hair trailing in the wind as he followed, a soft hand that held his face, a kiss that could heal any ailment. He awoke just as hopeful as before, but also more confused.

The pair woke and the cavern was different now, as if a blue hue with hints of gold laid itself over everything. The pool was much the same, yet it glowed with a greater power.

Standing up, the woman looked around. On the bank of the water across the cavern was someone else, a man. She took a moment to take them in, as they were lightly shadowed by the eternal night of the entrance, but quickly they became clear.

The man stood and took notice of the woman’s figure on the central island of the pool. Was it possible for the magic of the pool to transport people to where they wished to be? With whom they wished to be with? He walked into the pool and swam for its haven.

There was a current that worked to carry him there faster, and as he approached he noticed then who the figure was, that it was not a trick of fate or light.

The woman had also reentered the pool, an equal current pulling her to him.

Her smile was brilliant, he thought, and matched it for the first time in years.

His eyes are just the same, she thought, and allowed for nothing to break their gaze.

They met, and held each other, the magic of the pool keeping them afloat.

She brought her hand to his face, tracing his scars, his sharp features, and held his face close to hers.

He brought his hands around her body, never intending to let her go.

With a final kiss, their wishes came true.