[musashi]

wow....people in forums are so much nicer than just normal people around here.....(boring New Jersey in the USA, for those who don't know...lol) but, I'll post it hear, so this will be a 2 in 1 story thing......It's called Sanctuary.


Sanctuary

Sanctuary. The Sanctuary. A little place where every problem I have melts away. Where I can hear the silent music from inside and I see angels in flight. Yes, my sanctuary is a graveyard, and I sit here in honor of Kyle. Kyle saw all the silence, the beauty, and the memories of this place. He knew that one day, he would be here and everything would be ok; nothing would trouble him. People don’t see that when they come here. All they see is death. But do they realize that, maybe, death isn’t really here? Maybe death is somewhere else? He believed that this place is a doorway that allowed the restless to go to rest. And that one day, we will all be here, so shouldn’t we think the best of it?
Kyle always looked happily at life. Nothing brought him down, because every night, he would go the Sanctuary. He told me this. Why? I really don’t know. Growing up, I never really liked him; he always seemed kind of creepy. I was nice to him though, and always listened. When he told me about his Sanctuary, I didn’t really know what to think. I mean, who goes to a graveyard to make themselves feel better? Well, I wouldn’t have known, I never had done it before. And I probably never would have if it hadn’t been for Kyle.
One year, on Valentine’s Day, Kyle came up to me in my yard and handed me a luscious red rose. I looked him straight in the eye. Why was he doing this? Did he like me or something? I didn’t take it. “Please Kachina, take it” he said, his voice calm and distant. I looked at him with wondering eyes. He brought it closer to me until I took it.
“Kyle, what is this?” I asked him, holding the rose casually.
“It’s a rose of course.” I gave him a obvious look. “My mother once told me that on Valentine’s Day, boys are supposed to give girls a rose to show that they appreciate them. I appreciate you, so I am giving you a rose...”
“Well, I am glad you appreciate me and all, but don’t think me accepting this will mean anything...”
“I don’t expect it to...I just want to ask if you are busy tonight?”
“That’s expecting something, Kyle...”
“No, that’s asking something. If I was expecting something, I wouldn’t have asked anything, instead, I would’ve waited here impatiently until something was handed to me, or until you said ‘Go Away’, which you are not, because you would’ve said it already...”
“Stop being smart with me...what is it you want?” I snapped. I was a little angry now. He smiled.
“I just want to show you my Sanctuary. A little place where all your problems will melt away. Where you can hear silent music and see angels in flight.”
“You mean your graveyard? I’m sorry, I’d rather not...” I turned to walk away, but Kyle jumped my fence and soon walked next to me.
“You’re afraid.”
“I beg your pardon!”
“You’re afraid. You’re afraid of seeing death. But a graveyard isn’t death, so why are you afraid to go?”
“That’s where...death is...”
“Is it? What if someone dies in their sleep, is death still in the graveyard? And if someone dies in a hospital, is death not there? Wouldn’t death be where people are dying, not where dead people are going?”
It was too bad that Kyle made sense. There was no way I could’ve talked my way out of it, so I just agreed to go, but only once. But he only smiled and spoke 5 words and left.
“If you can stay away...”
I waited in my bed that night, hoping the little pebbles from out side wouldn’t hit my window. But they did, and, to no surprise, it was Kyle throwing them. I quietly snuck out my second story window and slipped, landing in his arms. “Watch it, I don’t want to have to catch you all night...” he smiled
“Oh be quiet and let’s just go!” I snapped, not to thrilled about going anyway. After several minutes of walking, we approached a wood-line. A narrow dirt trail led into it. It gave me the chills just glancing at it. “We aren’t going in there, are we?” I asked, my voice a little shaky.
“How else will we get there?” Kyle said, unafraid. He put out his hand. “Nothing will hurt you, I promise.” I took his hand and held onto it tightly as we walked through the woods. It wasn’t long until we came upon a very small cemetery of no more than two dozen headstones. Kyle let go of my hand and walked over to a large angel-shaped one and sat down. I quickly followed him, in fear of being alone. When I sat down, he spoke. “Just take a moment and close your eyes...its beauty will come to you...”
I closed my eyes, but for no more than just a second. I was too scared of being there. “I can’t do it, Kyle, I just can’t...I don’t...I just...” Tears began to fill my eyes.
“You don’t trust me...you need to trust me. Kachina, it’s just us here; me and you, and nothing will bother or hurt you. Trust me. I promise you...”
“But-“
“No, close your eyes and listen. Close your eyes...” he took two fingers and closed my eyes. “...and listen.” I did, and what I heard almost scared me. It was nothing. I heard nothing, but everything at the same time. Music filled inside me and comforted me. I opened my eyes, and I was no longer afraid; no longer scared. In fact, everything that scared me only moments before, now looked more beautiful and comforting than ever.
“Kyle, how...how did you do it?”
“I didn’t do anything. You just believed. And because you believed, you heard the angels. They are all around us, playing the instruments of heaven. The angels are making sure that the souls find their way to heaven. This makes a graveyard a gateway, not a death garden.” he took out a flute and began to play. When he finished several minutes later, he looked at me and smiled. “I wrote that. I call it Sanctuary and one day, when I am long gone, I’m going to play with the angels.”
Five years ago today, Kyle died from cancer. He was buried in this very cemetery. Every night, I come here, to my Sanctuary, humming the tune of the angels, and I trust him. I trust his memory. And when I close my eyes and listen to the sound of nothing, music begins to fill me. But it’s not the music I first heard. No, it’s something new that the angels were taught. It starts off with the solo sound of an all too familiar flute, singing loud and proud the tune of Kyle’s song, Sanctuary.