ESL Blogs

I used to watch the white haired old lady sitting on her rustic rocking chair with a vacant look on her face. Her weathered and wrinkled face looked so sad. Sometimes I noticed her gnarled hand would tremble ever so slightly. Other times, I noticed that she would grip the rocking chair as if her life depended on it. Once in a blue moon, she would break into a little smile. Her little chuckles were so rare, as rare as hen's teeth. 

I wondered what her story was. I bet she had endured so much in her life, the beautiful, the bad and the ugly sides of it. 

One sunny day, I decided to approach her. I took a deep long breath, and cautiously approached her. I was surprised when she looked at me with clear and piercing eyes. She didn't say anything, but stared back to the yonder with a sad little smile. I don't know what to say, so decided not to say anything. I sat with her for the next soothing hour. The silence was deafening, yet at the same time calming. All I could hear was the happy chirping noise of birds and the melodic sounds of the waves that pounded the beach.

From that day onward, I would spend my free time with the old lady. I noticed her face would light up when she saw me, but so far she never say anything. 

"Why are you spending your valuable time with a cranky old lady?" she surprised me one day with that question. Her raspy voice quite loud in the silence of day. It's like it's been some time since she talked to anyone. I didn't know what to answer to that. So I just let it go for awhile. How could I say to her that she fascinated me? How could I tell her that her every wrinkle that is etched on her face has a story written on it?

"You fascinate and intrigue me. I want to hear your story. I am sure you have seen and done so much in your life that nothing fazes you anymore". After the longest pregnant pause, finally I told her the truth. 

"Hmmmm.... nosy young man". That was all the short answer I got that rainy day. However on my next visit, she asked me, "What do you want to know?". That was the start of our daily lively conversations. Sometimes she talked non-stop and other times, she would look too melancholic, so that I had to prod the story from her. I took notes on her story in my little note book.

Lately I noticed that her health was fading. She looked small and more fragile than usual. "Are you okay today? We can just sit here and do nothing" I said. "Are you getting bored with this grumpy old lady, young man?" She asked jokingly, in between wrecking cough. I handed her a glass of warm water and told her that she would never bore me. 

That beautiful day, she talked in earnestly about many things. It was like she wanted to tell me all her life story while she still could. When I wanted to take my leave, her small weathered and wrinkled hand hold me tightly and a bit longer. She looked at me with her piercing eyes but with a sad smile. "Thank you young man for making this old lady life more beautiful every day. You make me look back with fondness rather than regret. You make me smile with happiness rather than bitterness. I wish you all the best in your life". I didn't say anything. I can't say anything. I was chocking with emotion. 

The next day it was gloomy, when I saw an empty rocking chair where the old lady used to sit, I know that she had left. I sat on the rustic rocking chair, and smile sadly while looking at the blue yonder. I let the gentle wind caress my tears, and the sounds of crashing waves drown my sorrow.