The heaviness of the air pressed in upon John as he sat in the room. Like all of the other dorm rooms, it was a dirty little hovel, with a beat up old couch and cinderblock bookcase. In the corner was someone’s bed covered with blankets and pillows. There was someone sleeping there, but John didn’t know who it was. The walls were covered by cheap Indian blankets. If John looked closely, they would appear to breathe.
The sound of disembodied voices floated in from the hallway, since the rough wood door was left open. The room was lit by a single bare bulb in a lamp, which also revealed an ariel tapestry of incense, cigarette smoke and marijuana. John watched his breath cause ripples in the ribbons of smoke. The voices from the hallway were filled with mirth and laughter; a still fainter voice seemed to be making an earnest argument.
John got out of the worn chair. He felt a wave of anxiousness come over him, as if he had many things to do and experience, but not enough time to do them all. Somewhere in the building, he could hear the bass resonance of an unrecognizable song. The voices of mirth in the hallway achieved crescendo, and then fell away. John stepped into the hallway and found several of his classmates staring at him with eyes of hope.
John felt defeated in their eagerness, and unworthy of their expectations. He stood there silently for a few moments, and then held up his hands. Looking at them, he marveled at the scars and creases, and realized that it was his hands that allowed him to create, and therefore, his hands were a representation of himself. He held them to the others and tired to explain their significance, but he found it was hard to articulate. His arms began to feel as if they were large pythons, with an unnatural strength that seemed to ooze from his clothing. The hope of his classmates vanished, and they began to stare at the dirty floor.
He stumbled through the words of saying that he had to go, and walked past them to the door outside.
The cool mountain air brought new energy, new hope to John. He took several steps into the crusty snow, and then looked up. He caught sight of a sliver of moon, which’s ambient light only hinted at the body otherwise hidden in darkness. He then looked beyond the moon, and saw the stars in their infinite nature. Taken aback, he went to his knees, and then his back. Never before had he realized that the universe was so empty, yet so full.
Comments