Sometimes we don't know exactly who is doing the speaking...

I sit down on the small straw chair beside the balcony door. I briefly glance up to remind myself of the ground below the second floor balcony I sit on. My head drops back to its resting place, causing the smoke from my cigarette to plume out around my head like a dragon’s smoky breath.

“Shoot. I did it again.” Nodding my head like I was swinging a pendulum from it. It was Dana again. Every time I think of the smell of freshly cut grass and cigarette smoke, I think of Dana.

“Mind if I join you?” a haunting voice asked.

“Sure.” I barely tipped my head in the voice’s direction.

“Don’t worry, I brought my own chair.” I heard the sound of a hollow tapping on wood, closely followed by the creak of someone sitting down on plastic porch furniture.

“Nice evening.” The voice seemed to drift over the wind.
I shrugged as I hung my head and flicked ashes from my cigarette.
“Too bad Dana couldn’t be here to share it.” More wind in the silent night. “Well, I guess that’s what I get.” I reached my head up to gaze at the night sky. With each cloud that drifted by the near-full moon, I thought ‘how peaceful it is.’

“Would be more peaceful with Dana,” the voice responded, even though I did not vocalize my thought. Then again, what would be more peaceful about it? What does she have that you don’t?”

I smiled.

The sound of the tenor chuckle startled me. “Sometimes you have to look at the big picture. You see, you have a gift. Whatever you are looking for, you already have it.”

I knew the voice was right. I responded, “Focus. It’s all about focus, isn’t it? My lens needs polished.”

“Then polish it. The answer is in the wind, my friend.” A sudden gust accompanied by a hollow knocking sound on wood. The voice that gave the company I so much needed, whisked away.
I took another hit of my cigarette.