Footprints in the Heart

For Cafe Writing - write a short story, scene, or piece of flash-fiction that incorporates the concept of falling in love with a photograph. Immediately, I thought of Gregory Colbert's photograph below, which touched my heart and I immediately fell in love with.



The first time I saw you, I immediately fell in love with you. A beautiful, alert and happy baby face surrounded by the two biggest ears I'd ever seen. I had come to this land unhappy to have left my own, unhappy to have left my best friends behind. But Daddy said it would only be for a couple of years, four at most, and then we'd return home. This was a wonderful opportunity for him and he said it was a wonderful opportunity for me as well as I'd learn more of the world and connect with nature. I didn't believe him. I wanted to go home.

But then one day sitting on the veranda, sad and wanting someone to play with, I saw you. And you made everything all right. That first time I saw you, you were a mere calf walking and playing between your mother's legs leaving little whirlwinds of earth behind that covered everyone with dust. You looked so happy that I could swear you were giggling. And you saw me and automatically wanted to become friends. But though you were a baby, you were so much bigger that I was scared of you. Yet you were always gentle, funny and fun. And in time I learned to trust you and you learned to trust me. And your Mama learned to trust me too. And she was so patient with us. I laugh when I think of the times you'd become excited in your play and she'd have to calm you with a nudge of her trunk centering you once again and reminding you that you were to act dignified. No matter what, you were to always act dignified.

And we grew up together in this land. We spent our days exploring. You'd pick blades of grass with your trunk to nourish yourself and attempt to feed them to me as well. Always so giving, you always shared everything with me. And what about the day you finally were able to reach a high branch and tore it in victory! In your excitement, you hit me on the head and off I went to get stitches! We laughed, yet Daddy did not find it funny. And those hot days when the sun would singe our skins, you'd flap those big ears of yours and fan us. Imagine that, my very own cool breeze created by my very best friend! And the swimming in the river! Ohh, how I loved to swim in the river with you! You'd fill your trunk with water and spray me under the guise of bathing yourself! Oh, that was so much fun! I knew you wanted to play but knew Mama was watching all the time. You'd hear her admonish you every now and again, "remember, little one, you must always act dignified." She just wanted to raise you right because one day you'd become the leader of your kingdom and eyes were always watching.

Despite your thick skin, I learned of your tender spots in your mouth and ears where your skin was paper-thin. I learned this because you trusted me and allowed me to come near you. I had never had a friend of your kind and I was blessed to have had one. You showed me that you too were filled with compassion, self-awareness and altruism. You felt things just like me. We were kindred spirits living a free-spirited life in this wonderful, hot expansive land. I learned so much from you.

And today I have to leave. I will finally be going home. Yet now I feel this is my home for it is the land I've come to love. I've come to love it because of you. And I find myself stricken with sadness. I cannot bear to tear myself away. I hope you will always remember me for I will never forget you. No more looking forward to days playing and going on explorations learning the topography of this land. No more gossiping with you my dear friend of the attention-grabbers and troublemakers of your tribe. You will no longer have me as your sole, devoted companion and now is the time for you to finally integrate more fully with your own. And I will cry. I will cry because you have meant more to me than I can ever say. I will cry because my heart will now feel a loss that was once filled with days with you. But I will one day return. Of this, I promise.

And I will have this picture to remind me of us. This picture of us saying goodbye. This picture that shows the tenderness that is you; the tender heart I've come to know and love. I will show this picture to others and speak of you and our time together so they could see the beauty of you and learn to love you just the same. And know that it will keep me company at all times along with the memories I have of you -- until the day I return and see you again. Perhaps then we will both have families and our children can grow up together. And, until then, keep me in your heart dear, loyal friend and never forget me. Because as you roam and lay your footprints on this land, know that your footprints are etched deep in my heart as well.

Goodbye my dear friend. Goodbye.

© 2008 Rebecca Bush