-=* The Visit *=-

It had been a long time since a voice other than her own had

spoken within the cottage, and she was nervous, desperately trying

not to show it. She offered him food and drink, telling herself

it was out of hospitality, and not a need to keep busy. He

stayed silent while she arranged the cups on a tray, and added a

plate of small cakes. His eyes smiled his thanks, as she set it

before him.

He began to speak, his voice soft and low, and soothing. He

spoke of nothing and everything, of nonsense and whimsey, of

rhyme and reason. Soon she forgot her nervousness, and smiled

freely at him. She took the hand he held out to her, never

doubting, and he led her to the window overlooking the edge of

the forest.

Small pockets of snow were scattered among the shadows of the trees.

Bare patches reached hungrily into the pale blue sky. A rabbit bravely

hopped into the clearing, lifting a twitching nose into the air.

Deciding it was safe, it quickly bounded across, to the safety of the

woods on the other side. The high, sweet notes of a bird filtered

through the window glass, like drops of sweet wine.

He looked at her with quiet eyes, and with a smile and a small

shrug, he simply said:

"It's Spring."

* * * * * * *

The cottage fell behind him as he walked away, the taste of cake

still on his lips. Behind him the flowers began to bloom almost magically, and

birds sang the songs of spring once more.

He turned a corner in the road and paused to look back at the idyllic scene, as

life returned to the earth here again, and was content. He pulled his cape tightly around

him and, bending against the icy wind, stepped off into the storm which swirled ahead of him, his body reflecting the

weight of years his face did not.

"Someday", he thought aloud, "someday it will be spring everywhere. Then I can rest."

* * * * * * * *