Writer's Notebook

The dawning realisation was beginning to transform itself into a distinct portrait. Not that the whole panorama came at once; more like a puzzle with various bits and pieces appearing and only later the links between them becoming clear. But right now enough of the picture was visible for him to realise he was in love.

They had met just four weeks earlier, when they found themselves enrolled in the same class: water colours from nature. At first, he had scarcely noticed her. But walking home that evening her smile kept flashing into his mind. He spent the better part of the next week waiting, hoping, expecting and when once again that small curve of her mouth bridged the gap between them, he felt warm inside. There was something about that smile which gave a hint of fragility; as if she needed someone to shore her up.

They talked for the first time during the break and discovered they lived in the same part of town, so it was quite normal for them to walk home together. These fifteen minutes of companionship became the highlight of his week. Tonight, he longed to see more of her, to tell her what was happening inside him, to pronounce what his timidity would never let him utter. He walked on home leaving so much unsaid. The only channel open to him now was to obey his inner instinct and pour out his turmoil through words which would never be sent. He would put the poem up on his blog; a kind of confession... a safe confession. His fingers began to caress the letters on the keyboard before him:

Fighting back the tears she let herself into the flat. For the first time in her life she knew a man she could trust, someone she could lean on, someone who would help her face up to life's challenges. They had met, talked, walked home together, yet he hadn't even noticed her. When they arrived at her flat, he'd merely shaken her hand and walked on. Everything in her wanted to call him back; to resist her Karma and claim him as her own. Yet, she didn't dare. The pain of rejection would be too great. She went into the spare room and looked at the easel beside the cupboard. The portrait that emerging from the canvas expressed everything she had ever longed for; both to give and to take. But the portrait remained mute and hope withered.

As she went back into the living room, her computer emitted the familiar bleep indicating she had received another message. She glanced at the screen. It was an RSS feed from her favourite blogger; there was another post for her to read. She'd first come across "Magic Words" whilst she was researching an article for the town magazine. She was hooked from the start. Never had she known anyone express himself so beautifully. And over the past few weeks he had become her one solace. She clicked the link in the message and devoured the proffered words. Her eyes began to overflow. If only...

And all the time she didn't even notice that one letter which would have told all.