In The Middle of the Crowd

I heard you clearly

I'm sorry if I'm barging.

I apologise if this seems like a lot.

I wanted to keep this on the inside of me.

Then I decided to journal about it.

Now here I am, writing in my public journal. Not my private one.

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Have you ever stepped in a room full of people, but your eyes catch that one person that stands out?

Have you been able to recognize the sound of your dad's car in the midst of other cars?

Have you been able to pick out a special perfume scent while walking on the streets?

Please tell me you know what it feels like to identify someone in the dark because you know exactly how they walk.

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I have no idea if semantics has a word for it.

But I believe the best things are they that can't be explained away by mere language.

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I sat in a room full of people.

I sat quietly.

I sat unnoticed.

It was a familiar room.

One where we always used to sit.

Once a week, you and I.

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But I'm not here to reflect on the good old days.

Well, maybe I am, a little bit.

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As I was saying;

I went back into that room, at the same time.

Full of people as usual.

Full of people listening to a man teach.

As in a school. Learning valuable lessons.

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I decided to sit in the midst of friends once again

I was present, but invisible

Loudly following the teaching but I was mute

There was a joke that was cracked

There was a sound of joint laughter

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And there it was..

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I heard your precious laughter.

It was distinct. It was particular.

Standing out in the middle of other people laughing.

I know I heard it.

I am very sure my ears picked you out very clearly.

I heard you.

I heard you loudly.

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And then the flashbacks came rushing back like a mighty wind

I was staring blankly into the darkness but I could see your laughing face

I was sitting alone but I could feel your smiling presence. It was very tangible.

I can't wait to put a laugh on your face once more.

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But here I am,

Letting you know that even in the noise from a crowd, I still pick you out

When the world is laughing, I can recognize your laughter

When the world is speaking at the same time, I can pick out your voice, as clear as day

No matter the numbers of kilometres, I still know you.

I still hear you.

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While men laughed, my ears stood alert.

Picking a familiar sound.

It was your sound.

I heard you.

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