The Old Soul

The first vignette from a short story about life lessons learned from a child.

The Old Soul

I witnessed compassionate humanity even if from a bit of distance. Before me, an extraordinary play unfolded, emoting unmatched joy.  A child named Lyly filtered into me. She revealed hope for everyone. Mingled within us, is an elevated soul, existing only as light, like an ethereal gift, immersed in goodness. One hot summer day in a park, I saw her catch odd movement under massive pine  tree. She lightly wafted over ever so quietly.  There she saw a squirrel beneath the tree.

 Squirrels being tiny, generally bolt away from anything larger than,say, a squirrel. This squirrel struggled mightily to escape. Just like they all always do. Lyly didn't expect to get closer than a long way off. He confused her. She drew nearer, then nearer still. No one gets too close to one these skittish scurrying critters. Upon a closer look, Lyly’s confusion crystalized, taking form in a certain troubled sorrow.

Nothing belonged to Lyly, she belonged to everything. Her squirrel couldn't scamper away, for his hind legs couldn't move. He scratched with his forelegs, desperate. Frenzied. Fearful. Futile. Bewildered by his body's failure. Watching, her sorrow deepened. Without words, she looked at the sky, closed her eyes, then cast her essence over the squirrel. They looked at each other. Each of them knew what she did not want to know.

Author's Note

The paragraph is one of a few about a child's heart changing mine, perhaps all.

Reviews

[Sirius King]

A Child Shall Lead Us... i think this story is a good example how children teach us things everyday without even knowing, if we pay attention we can learn a lot ... great write!

[S.P. Johnson Jr.]

This piece is in need of a few paragraph breaks. Also, there is quite a bit of head-hopping between the narrator, Lyly and squirrels. Fix those issues and you'll have a pleasant, if melancholy little story.

[S.P. Johnson Jr.]

A couple of paragraph breaks are needed and there is some head-hopping with the POV shifting between the narrator, child and squirrels. Fix those issues and you'll have a pleasant if melancholy little piece.

[Overthehill]

I had to read this several times so I could really envisage Lyly. Now I can.

[Leslie Philibert]

Well observed prose-poem with lots of good imagery, good work.

[Genevive]

this is so moving. it's amazing what children can do to our hearts.

[mariah]

this is beautiful. and children have a way to change peoples hearts becuase they are so inocent and precious :) nice work
- mariah

[Priya]

Beautiful! Really beautiful. Children's hearts do exert a magical effect on most people around them.

[Aka_Kitsune]

interesting and very well written, nice job :P