After a long time

May I say I'm back? Zafey... such a cool identity I had in the past. I remember the urge to create a unique identity, that is what ultimately lead to this name. A mix of what I don't think I'll ever be a princess (Zara is princess in some slavic language if I don't remember wrongly) and Stephy. I like it though. I jumped over to wordpress for a while, was trying to write some stories... They didn't work out that well... Here's one entry for your reading pleasure. "Remember that time when you rushed to the swings only to realize they were all taken? The teenage girls gossiping away on the swings didn't seem like they would stop any time soon. Neither were they inclined to let you have it for a while. So, you walked around the estate attempting to forget that despair. But just at that point in time, you would notice homes with swings installed in the porch, swings you've never noticed before. You'd recall the time long ago when you probably climbed onto one of those suspended chairs at Ikea while shopping with your parents. In the insolent manner of a young child, you simply refused to leave it, and bawled, "Can't we have it?..." You only got off the seat after your parents were so far away and you didn't wanna get lost in the maze of Ikea. For the whole week, as much as you've tried to bug your parents to get one of those swings, they would simply reply with, "No way! There's neither space at home, nor am I letting you drill a hole in the ceiling!"And you'd concede defeat or vow to get yourself one when you move out. But, that feeling of dangling your legs and swinging is just so refreshing, relaxing and chill! Gosh, the closest you would ever get to dangle your legs was by sitting on your study table. But alas that just meant waiting to gaze upon your parents' chagrin, as they peer into your room every hour. For sitting on the table is considered impolite. So don't you thank God for imaginations, the wonderful brain, the cave for rumination and solitude?? I am a daydreamer. Definitely. I can't concentrate because of that, (pause)I think. I picked up writing in an attempt to help myself focus. To be able to write coherently and logically, hoping that it would aid me in the sorting of my random thoughts and link up the bits and pieces of various stories I came up with. Then hopefully, the coherence developed in thought through writing, could transcend into reality and rationality of both my thoughts and actions. I'd like to think that as a fetus, a choice was given to decide which genetic code you want. I chose the math genes over literary genes. So unlike my younger brother who had no choice but to take all the leftovers, I am not one gifted with the glib of tongue and the flair for fluid writing. So back to the topic after a moment of distraction. I heard the song of castle on the cloud many times as a young child. This is where the imaginations begin. While young Cosette of Les Miserable builds a castle in air, I am no princess and have no inclination of being one, I fancy a swing that hangs from the clouds. Imaginations! starts here: The wooden plank was suspended by long black ropes. It swayed gently every time the wind blew. As in all imaginations, it was a scene of peace and serenity. The skies were blue with wisps of clouds, overlooking mountains with lush forestry. There's a plain where one could grow all the flowers and probably imagine little girls running around, playing hide and seek among the tall grasses. Or perhaps it's just a field for the hungry grass-eaters. So throw in a grazing sheep or two onto that plain, how about a flock of them? Along with the crazy black-white Shetland sheep dog doing its duty and running around in circles. There could be anything on that patch of field. For on the swing, it didn't matter what was on the plain. It'll just be spots of white fluffs with a ball of black circling around them. So the girl on the swing, yes there's a girl, is one I'm envious of. She could point her toes, stare at them against the backdrop of green. Giggle and laugh at the gentle breezes of the sky. Occasionally, hold the black ropes tightly and lean forward to see the green pastures below. She's an Asian-looking girl with long black hair, which had a tinge of dark brown under the sunlight. Relaxed and clothed in a white dress. Her hair was worn in a half ponytail with several plaited strands. Simple yet elegant. The rest of her long hair rested on her shoulders. Her only friend was there for her some nights, the boy who sits on the curve of a crescent moon, always fishing. But no, this is not gonna become a love story, that was just a random fact. I never thought how she got up there, she just did and just was. Did she feel lonely? Well, she had a friend, didn't she? She just sat there, exposed to the elements and enjoying what nature throws at her. Once in a while, she would let her hair loose, and imagine for a moment, the wind blowing from behind her, making a mess of her hair. Many girls get annoyed at the mere prod of their stylish crown. But this was a different girl with much poise and a good temperament. No voices of anger or shows of annoyance would be hurled at the wind. It would have been futile anyway. She took it in stride or perhaps in this case, in sway. Laughter and singing would ensue as her hair covers the front of her face, fluttering with the wind. Perhaps a playful glance behind as though to see if the jesting wind would appeared in visible form. Maybe her character was formed by being alone most of the time and dangling her legs in such a high place. She knew no anger, nor anything about vanity. A joyful soul, she was. She went where the winds took her. Literally. The wind blew the clouds over to a still lake. It was still. Really calm. As usual, she curled her delicate toes, placed her left ankle over her right and her long fingers clasped the black ropes tightly. Tipping the plank forward, she bent over to gaze at the scene below. Breath-taking. It was as though the clouds felt insecure about its looks and needed a mirror for affirmation from a close friend. The water reflected the beauty of the clouds in an azure blue sky. This little girl gazed at the beauty of her home. But she didn't know it was where she lived. Being so high up, she can't see herself in the reflection. It looks serene, she thought, I want to be there. For the first time, she felt a want so strongly. Gingerly, she stood on the swing, took a deep breath of the sky's fresh air and jumped off head first. There is no concept of pain. No, not in my imaginations. And no, there is no gory ending either. Her heart pumped at an exhilarating rate as she skydived. She held her arms wide open to receive her new home. It was so high up that it must have been a long time before she finally hit the water. Boy, did she get a shock. The water was warm, a very different feeling from being in the skies amidst the cool breezes. As she lifted her face out of the water, she sat up, all drenched but laughing. It was a shallow pool, I must have mistaken it for a lake. Rubbing her eyes, she got a clear look of the things around her. It was nothing like what she saw up there. Everything around her was green. She was not dismayed for it was a peculiar sight to her. Her feet, yes her feet! For first time, she dangled her legs no more. The sole of her feet kissed the bottom of the pool, a mushy ground. She tapped it twice and looked at her sole to see the sand escaping grain by grain as she wriggled her toes. Her white dress was now, no longer white. Wondering for a while, where on earth was she? Bleeeeat! Something different from the whistling of winds and the song of rainfall. For first time, she saw sheeps grazing. Oh such fluffy animals! The little lamb was chewing off grass by the bank. Then, her second friend in her life came, "Did it hurt..." the boy herder said as he stood by the bank touching his straw hat. "...when you fell from the sky?" He pointed skywards. She looked up and saw the home she longed to be in."