Bad Times

This article, written by Senith Cooray under the theme “A Post Pandemic World” was awarded third place at Rethink 2020, the English article writing competition organized by Rotaract Mora in May 2020.

“Those were bad times”, I said to myself and let out a sigh. Looking back at how things went down, I realized what an understatement it was. I was at home, laying on my bed. It was not the most comfortable bed in the world, but I have never had trouble falling asleep on it. Except for tonight. My mind was racing with thoughts, thoughts about how things could have happened differently If they said this or did that.

Wham! A strong gust of wind blew my windows wide open making an alarmingly loud noise. “Did I forget to close it?” I thought. No sooner another blast of wind came through the now open windows and brushed against my skin, lingering around the thick hairs on my hand. I noticed my body reacting to this with goosebumps. I suddenly felt alive, like I have never felt before. I got out of my bed like a man possessed and walked out with much eagerness to my backyard. I looked at the night sky which was pitch black with stars strewn across in randomness. The moon stood out with its gigantic size, radiant with a light blue glow around it. As expected, the wind was present, but I felt it more now that I am not confined by four walls. I was out in the open witnessing the beauty of the night.

Feeling adventurous, I left my backyard and walked leisurely for quite a while, till I was surrounded by nothing but nature. I absorbed my surrounding, observed every beautiful detail it had to offer. The trees were shivering in the cold breeze. Moonlight was dancing on the rippling waters of the nearby lake. Two squirrels scurried their way onto the high branches of a tree. No words could describe how truly beautiful it was.

I was alone in that moment, yet I did not feel lonely. The troubles that we endured made no difference to them, not to the creatures or plants. The sun and the moon are going to rise and set in endless cycles even when we humans are gone. We are insignificant specks compared to the vastness of this universe. I expected these thoughts would sadden me and deepen my worries. But to my surprise it left me in peace and calmness. After one last gaze at the magnificent view, I retired to my bed and slept the best sleep of my life.