A SPECIAL STONE
By Mike Gerhard
A SPECIAL STONE
By Mike Gerhard
As I set out on a warm summers day, I felt a happening would unfold before I rested.
I felt content, yet slight anticipation. Strolling by the lake shore, I picked up a stone and skipped it into the bay. The sound of the stone skimming across the water top before finally disappearing into the clear depth of the water, inspired me to send another stone on it’s refreshing journey.
At the bottom of the pile was a wonderfully shaped stone, even though covered with soil it stood out.
I wanted badly to toss it as I did the others, but I held back. As I concentrated persistently on this small object, I began to feel that it was trying to tell me that it was more than it appeared.
It grew very warm in my palm which frightened me, but also intrigued me.
I placed it next to me where I had just sat, a dull glow grew around it which grew quite bright until I had to look in another direction for fear of being blinded.
I noticed others walking past, glancing for a moment as I shielded myself from this great light: I couldn’t understand why others didn’t see this light which was giving off such a strange warmth.
With this thought the brightness dimmed rapidly, and there sitting next to me was an object or image of a person very much like a shadow, only I felt it had a purpose.
Cautiously I asked it if it would harm me. It didn’t reply. I told this image that I was frightened but I didn’t want to run from it. With that statement I had given, it gave off a sudden glow that diminished after a moment, I realized the glow meant it was pleased, this pleased me also.
I asked if it knew me, it glowed. I smiled. I asked it if it liked me, it glowed once more. I began to think this was my guardian angel or something far greater than I. “Do you care about me?” I asked it. It glowed much longer and stronger than before, meaning it must care a great deal.
With this I had to ask again the question it didn’t answer, “Are you going to harm me?” It wouldn’t answer me, I screamed it again, “Are you going to harm me?!?” no reply. I grew hysterical, this thing might harm me, and I knew nothing of it’s powers.
I screamed “Who are you?” repeatedly, praying to see it’s face, it then spoke to me, it said, “If I was to show you my face, you would think it undesirable and possibly ugly, but it’s really quite the opposite; if you really, in your heart, wish to see my face I can not stop you.”
With this a pair of blue eyes began to come in focus upon it’s face with darkened brows, the hair was light colored and stringy, I then noticed the tears falling from the saddened eyes.
I wondered how those eyes could harm me. The remaining features slowly came into focus, I realized after a few moments, this thing was some form of me. Now that I knew it would speak, I asked another time if it would harm me, it’s reply was “Only if you allow me to.”
I asked if we were related because of our similar looks and features, his reply was “I’m sorry if I’ve frightened you, I have not intended to do so, but you see, I was you, I am what you were, I hope we do not look alike for your sake. I am pain, which will visit you from time to time if you are not honest with yourself and all that you come in contact with.”
The dusty reflection of me broke into a great brightness once again until all that was left was a glowing stone. The glowing faded, and as it did a strong wave splashed slowly over the bay, the wave’s voice was beautiful as it said “Bless you my son.”
I gently picked up the glowing stone and skipped it fragily into that wave of serenity.