Clare

Clare is an intriguing girl who I met during one of my trips around the world; she has dizzying eyes which have mesmerized me since the first time I saw her. Maybe she is ten or eleven… I am not sure about her age, but I can say that she does not seem to be only that age. She has an unbelievable wisdom and knowledge that make her soul a hundred years more experienced. She has a white skin,  long black hair and a curious smile that is always on her face.

I met her when I was coming back to my hotel after a walk at Youghal beach, in Ireland. She was sitting at a small square playing with one of her dolls and suddenly she stood up and started staring at me with a curious expression.

- Hey little, what are you doing here? – She asked me. I was surprised with that attitude and it took me a few seconds to respond.

-Oh, little? – I smiled -  I’m coming back to my hotel!

- No, you don’t understand my question, what are you doing here? –She repeated with a smile.

- Little, what do you mean by this? – At that moment, I was very confused.

-You know, I'm sure. I'm wondering why you have travelled so far to find something that you can find within yourself – She looked at me quietly and gestured at me to sit by her side.

-What I’m looking for? – She continued to play with her doll. After a long time in silence, she stared at me again with those eyes that mesmerized me and answered quietly.

- I felt some emptiness inside you since the first day you arrived in this town. I tried to figure out why. I couldn't see anything but a lonely soul looking for a place to be in peace. Actually, before I saw you, I felt that I was committed to show you a way to find this peace. – She picked up some sand, smiled once again and threw the sand in a small pond. – Come see the magic, little! - I got up quickly and got down on my knees next to Clare. – Do you see the magic?

- Sorry, but I can’t see anything unless water and sand.

-That’s your problem, you’re always looking for peace, but you don’t understand that peace is in everything that can be in harmony with nature. See… - She repeated what she had done before. – Look through the water, even with the unexpected visit of the sand grains, after some time, it manages to suit its calm rhythm again. It's all about acceptance, the water is in peace because it accepts whatever comes, good or bad. When it accepts, the intruders become part of its reflection. - I watched the water while she sobbed. When I looked at my side, the little girl had gone, leaving only her doll near the small mound of sand. After some time processing what had happened, I got the doll and saw that it was written: "belongs to Clare”...

Without a doubt, Clare was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I’m saying this because in a few minutes she created inside me an outstanding feeling and she gave me the way to find my peace by myself. She brought me more than everything and somehow she taught me how to see the things with other eyes, maybe dizzying eyes…

This short story was written by one of my students, Maryna Viana,

as way to evaluate the use of  the English language

to express her feelings in a creative way.