a hop, a skip, a jump

Finally the mind has found some peace. It's a good feeling.

There was a need to be alone. A need to watch time like sand slipping between the fingers.

I saw a little girl skipping in glee. Little green polka dotted frock barely covering the little bums. She skips without a rope, only with happiness. On a bright sunny day, she goes with mom shaded under her colourful umbrella. Talking non stop. I was 6 years old.

In the afternoon, she's skipping again. Bro and red haired cousin P are trying to keep their balance on a bicycle on the front lawn. She's clapping her hands with joy and skipping higher, almost jumping. I was 8 years old.

She's watching the sun sink into the sea. The young man hands her a glass of wine, her first ever, and croons "Red red wine... stay close to mee.. eee..." This time it's her heart skipping wildly. I was 18.

She is watching the same sun slipping behind a mountain and blotting out the daylight. She watches as the stars wink and play, a neverending canopy of little jewels that are so within reach. Revering a soothing silence in the silver moonlight and familiar shadows. She skips ever so carefully, lest the spell is broken and the magic vanishes. I was 25.

I don't remember when the pain in the legs began. It spread to the mind. The skipping waned. Then it stopped. And nothing was the same anymore. As steps grew heavy, they lost their track at times.

Now I want to feel the joy of skipping again. The laughter, the banter, the music that surrounded it. I am going to attempt to skip again. I will use a rope if need be, but there's going to be some serious skipping. Swing my rope?