El Rincón del Búho Escritor: The Secret of Life

The Secret of Life 

  

My name is Theresa, I live in a little town in the east of England. My house is located in front of a golf club with a lot of hills. I have a peaceful life. I always get up at the same hour, take my breakfast at the same time and jogging every morning. Every time I go outside for run I see an old woman sit alone on the top of the hill looking at the sky.

 One day I decided to go to the top of the hill and ask her why she spend her morning there, so I ran up there and I asked her – Hi, may I sit with you? - the old woman slime at me and answer me – of course you can, this is a free place- so I sit down and we stayed quiet for a couple of minutes but I feel so awkward and it felt like an eternity.

However, I couldn’t take away the idea of why she spend her morning in the top of hill. So I asked – If you don't mind can I ask you something personal about you? - the old woman looked at me with this face when you know exactly what the other person is going to say, but, she was so kind, she just smile and said – Yes, you can, but I think is better if you know my name first- In that moment, I realize, I was so focus to know the answer that I completely forgot to asked her name.

 In that moment, the old woman started to laughing and I think my face was completely red, she said – My name is Lydia nice to meet you…- -Theresa!, sorry, my name is Theresa. So Lydia, I hope this is not a rude question but Why you stay here and look at the sky every morning?-Lydia looked at the grass with a sad smile and said me- when I was your age I always was running and working that I didn´t have time to take a rest and enjoy everything I had. So when I got married I was so happy and I started to enjoy my life because with my husband we did a lot of crazy things. But, before of twenty years, my husband get sick so we couldn’t do the same things as we used to did it. I was so sad and focus to he get better that I forgot enjoy the things as I used to did when I was young.-.

She look me in the eye and tell me - I think my husband noticed it because one day he told me that he want to go outside and take a breath. We went sited just here and looked at the sky we were in silence but it was not the kind of silence that you feel uncomfortable, is the opposite, is a particular kind that you don´t have to say anything because it said everything.- I noticed how a tear slide down her cheek.

Even though, she continue with her story- We stayed here for a couple of hours and then he told me – Peach, I don't want to see you sad owing to me, I know I am dying but, when I passed away, I want to remember that smile, the one that can move every single part of me, I want to remember those eyes that even of all of these years still the same, but I want them full of happiness and love, not full of sadness and remorse-. After all she had told me, I felt that I couldn’t go on with the story.

So, I took her hands and told her that she did not have to remain the story. But it seems that she didn’t hear me, hence, she carry forward.

-As I was saying, latter of that day we started doing some little things inside home like watch a movie, take a romantic dinner in the garden, listen to our favourite songs and come here every morning. But even, they were just daily things I stared to apprise every single moment on my live because no matter what kind of activity you were doing, it is better if you are with the person that you loved. Leo, my husband die one month after the conversation we had but, I promise him that every morning I will come here and look at the sky and smile. I know that he is looking at me, and smiling is the best way to say ¨I still love you no matter what¨. And that is the reason why I came here, to say I love you.-.

When she finished, I was out of words, the story was so beautiful that I couldn´t stop crying but, I felt awful because Lydia must think awful things about me.

So I told her- Lydia I’m so sorry. You must think I just want to hear your story just for entertain me. But I was curious because you were sitting here so peaceful while everybody else is inside of a stressful life, you seem like out of this word- Lydia look at me and with the calmest voice told me- Theresa you don’t have to say sorry, I understand you for the reason that I was like you. But, you need to realize, all of that work it is not going to be useful if you don’t have a goal and something to move you to keep going, my goal and my motivation was my love for Leo, but it isn´t the same for others, some people want to find adventures, that is why they work so hard, some others just want to write, but they work by the reason of they need some money to save when they decide to get out of work.-

I looked at her surprised because of here wisdom- And now Theresa tell me what is your goal, what thing move you.- I think I was white like a piece of paper because Lydia offered me some water- Lydia, I think I don’t know which is my goal. I think I was so focus on my work that I forgot why I start doing it-.

 Lydia looked me with those big green eyes and spoke to me if we were old friends- Theresa you need to find it, otherwise you will get lost in this crazy word. My advice for you is you need to take some vacations. Travel to those places you always want to go and surprise yourself with different kinds of things that you never thing you will do it. In other words you need to life-.

I took the advice of Lydia. I travelled to Greece, Italy, France and Australia. Since I had that conversation I started doing some other stuff apart of jugging, I practiced ballet, and I started cooking classes. But the best of all, Lydia and I became very good friends and I always write to her about my adventures.

One day I was reading a letter from one of Lydia’s sons and they told me that she die while she was sleeping. But for a strange reason, I didn’t feel sad, I know that she is with Leo in a beautiful place. I own her so much because the taught me the secret of life.

Patty 🦉