Aurora Borealis

As the ship docked in Faxafloi Bay, Isabelle stood on deck and looked out at the city streamlined before her dotted in bright red roofs on white buildings. Ted had said he would show her around that day.
All of a sudden, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“So, are you ready to see Iceland?” Ted asked.

“Yes!” Isabelle smiled.

“Did you bring your swimsuit?” he queried

“You bet! Let’s go!!” she prodded him.

He took her hand and led her through the moving crowd of passengers heading off the boat. Once they reached the streets, Isabelle wasn’t sure which direction she wanted to go in first, so she blindly let Ted lead her down the street of his choosing. The air was humid and clung to her skin. The buildings that surrounded them were a menagerie of old and modern architecture… white modern steeples spiring above houses. Isabelle was enjoying this sense of indecision. It was as if life had become one long, unfolding story and she was succumbing to this sense of unknown. She had always known what each day would bring–the routine of caring for her father: his appointments, the stories and books he loved to be read, the foods he could and could not handle. It was all so strange–this freedom.

As they walked on, Isabelle noticed a man on a street corner playing his guitar and singing what sounded like folk music. He looked to be a seasoned busker in his torn jeans, old brick red corduroy jacket with frayed sleeves and leather sandals. He sat on an old stool in front of a bright blue building with white painted wooden framed windows. The stark contrast between the ruddiness of the man’s jacket and the azure building captivated Isabelle. For a moment, as they watched him pick away on his wooden instrument, he looked up and his eyes met Isabelle’s. She held his gaze for a moment and then he winked and she quickly looked away. After a few songs, she felt Ted’s hand grasp hers, pulling her away into the next moment.

After a while they arrived at a gate and walked into Grasagardur Botanical Garden. The garden was dotted with flowers in bright orange, magenta and white.

Ted and Isabelle walked over to a pond that was surrounded by paper shaped stones that intermittently placed around it. They sat down and Isabelle examined some bright yellow flowers that were by her feet. As she looked down, Ted began to ask her questions.

“So are you going to stay in England for a while when the cruise is over?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said,” I begin my studies at Oxford next month.”

“Wow. That is not an easy school to get into. You must be quite the student!”

“I do enjoy school,” she said

“What subject do you fancy the most?” Ted asked.

“I love English and writing,” Isabelle smiled.

“What kind of writing do you do”

“Poetry mostly, sometimes stories.”

“What made you want to go so far away for college?” Ted inquired.

“Well, my father studied there and would always tell me stories about it. So, I decided last year that I would apply to see if I could get in and I was accepted to Christ Church last winter. I wish my father was still around so he could hear my stories about Oxford.”

“Oh,” Ted paused, “I am sorry about your father.” He looked down at his shoes and began twiddling his thumbs.

“It’s OK. “she said.

“Yes, sometimes it is O.K. but most of the time it isn’t. Sometimes it is just enough to be able to make it through a day without being reminded of that person.”

“You speak from experience?”

“Um, yeah.”he said.

“I am sorry,” Isabelle touched Ted’s shoulder.

“How long ago did you lose them?” she asked.

“Her name was Lisa and I lost her two years ago. We were engaged.”

Isabelle let out an audible gasp.

“Oh” she could only whisper as she felt that tightening in her throat that comes just before crying.

“That is why I decided to work on the ship. I am always moving and never stay in one place for very long. It numbs me… makes it easier to deal with the loss. The pain never really goes away when you lose someone. You just learn how to deal with it,” Ted confided.

“I understand what you mean about dealing with it and the pain not going away.”

Isabelle looked around at the delicate flowers planted next those with thick hardy leaves. There was such a contrast in their textures. It seemed that way in life as well. The hard, ugly things were juxtaposed next to the lovely rare things and they all filled this garden, this space each of us is given called life.

They walked around the garden and then made their way to the hot springs. After they changed into their swimsuits, they entered the springs. It was as if the sky and the water had joined together in the murky blue and clouds were rising from the springs. Isabelle felt as if she were walking through clouds of warmth that brushed against her skin. She felt light and warm and the effervescence took her over. Ted smiled widely as he watched her reaction to this new experience.

“I remember the first time I came here. It is so hard to believe that nature can do this amazing thing,” he said.

Isabelle just looked at him, then closed her eyes and smiled.

The rest of the day was spent exploring Reykavik’s hidden passageways and local haunts. When they arrived back on the cruise ship, evening had set in and the sky became filled with green streams of light.

“This is Aurora Borealis, Isabelle!”

Isabelle had no words for how beautiful the sky had become. It was as if the sky was singing as the green flashed and swirled on the horizon. Isabelle leaned into Ted as they sat on the deck and he leaned over and kissed her mouth gently. A warmth spread through Isabelle that she had not experienced before. The kiss did not last long and was innocent in a way. But, at eighteen, all Isabelle knew was that it was something she would not soon forget.

The next day, as she was packing, Isabelle noticed an envelope by her door. It had her name on it. She opened it up:

Isabelle,
Never let anyone tell you that you can’t experience everything this world has to offer. I know this is a scary time for you going to a new place and starting out in this life. Never be afraid of the unknown. Embrace it. I wish you all the best. Thank you for some wonderful memories,
Ted

As she folded up the note, she looked at her luggage packed by the bed. She clutched the note against her chest as it rose and fell quickly.

“Breathe,” she thought, just breathe.