Tuesday, June 3, 2008

   Lightning Memories
Lightning Memories

Marie was driving two her friends home late one night. It was thunder storming, just without the thunder, or rain part—a real lightning storm. The three teenaged girls marveled at the beauty of the storm, drinking in the sight with thirsty blue and hazel eyes.
“It’s so beautiful,” Angela, riding shotgun, cried, as lightning struck between the clouds.
“Um-hum,” Marie agreed,” I should really be focusing on driving!” Her friends gulped, as Marie laughed.
“Marie! Focus on the ground, not the sky!” Angela laughed, as she teased Marie.
“Awww, but that’s no fun!” Marie wined, “I can multitask!” She smiled. Lighting consistently lit-up the sky, revealing otherwise invisible clouds. The car was silent for a few minuets, as the little black car rode down the black roads of Wilmington.
I could not see the lighting as well as Marie, and Angela, because I was alone in the back seat. I tried sticking my head out of the black car’s window, but that only worked so well. Still—even from my point of view, it was a beautiful night. I kept thinking, in the silence, how strange it was that we could see it so clearly, but never hear the thunder.
Marie grinned, suddenly remembering the conversation from earlier that we had, no doubt.


“We better go home already, if we want to make it home before midnight!” Marie stated. Angela, and myself were falling asleep on our feet, so we didn’t argue. Nichole got up, and left the room to the front door. Marie, Angela, and I went to search thorough the dark house for our shoes, being as quiet as possible because Marie’s parents were asleep.
We went-outside, and saw a flash. “What was that?” I asked, thinking it was lighting, but wondering, because I heard no thunder, and I felt no rain.
“It’s lightning, Arelia,” Nichole replied, pale faced, but smiling. Nichole was afraid of thunder and, well, all bad weather in particular.
“Oh.” I quietly replied, feeling a little silly, as I saw another flash that was obviously lighting.
“Let’s go!” Marie said excitedly, an avid fan of wet weather, along with Angela and myself. We heard the door close shut, as we walked to the cars; Marie driving Angela, and I home in her small black car, while Nichole was driving herself home in a blue Mustang. “I love lighting! It’s so wild, and free!” She sighed.
Marie started the ignition, as the car CD player turned-on, playing Inuyasha music at a comfortable volume. We sang along, as Marie was backing out of the driveway. They then stopped singing, and wistfully commented on the beauty of the lightning. I silently agreed, and stared into the beautiful stormy, night sky. “You know, there are just some things I don’t want to learn about, science wise.” Angela said,” like love, and lightning.” Marie agreed.
“It just makes life duller, and brings people down, with no real depth behind it.” I said.
“And it destroys a lot of modern people’s appreciation for old tales.” Marie said, saddened, the reflection of the sky in her eyes. She and her family had a passion for what most of the modern world has left behind, forgotten in the past. “I never want to learn how lighting works; I just want to drink in the beauty, and mystery.” She sighed.
We drove in the night, our destination not far.


“Do you know what is born when lighting meets?” Marie asked, grinning, but keeping her eyes on the road.
“More lighting?” I quickly said, thinking what else could be born of it? Angela laughed, it seemed like she had the same idea.
“No—Dragons...” She said, mystically. We were silent after that, the answer sinking in. We really have lost a lot of mystery, and fantasy in our world. I looked out of the car-door window, and into the sky, seeing the lighting, and imagining dragons being born behind the cover of the clouds. I didn’t want to ask questions like, ‘Where would they live?’ or ‘how could anyone not notice them if they’re born in the air like that!?’ No. I just wanted to believe.
We are not all scientists. I think we, as modern people, tend to forget that. There is only as much mystery in the world, as you are willing to accept.

Marie got us home, and we agreed to meet online tomorrow, since Angela and I were going to be studying for most of that day. We also promised to drive, and walk home slowly, to enjoy the free light show, and dream of dragons in the sky, behind the invisible, black clouds.
While I was walking home alone, I couldn’t help but sing about it. I felt my creativity spilling over, it yearned to be sung, written, alight, brought to life. The lighting was a spark that I’ve been long searching for all year for Creative Writing. Not candles, not fireworks, not smoke bombs, or sparklers, but “wild, and free” lighting.


Aurora Silverwood
Assignment 29

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