Another Place by Terry Le Feber

Another Place by Terry Le Feber

She stood at the window, 1,000 feet above the snow covered valley below, fascinated by the lone American Eagle that had been gliding, diving, and now soaring upwards.

The creature with its gyrations enchanted her, taking her mind to another realm that she had either ignored or had not consciously visited before.

This new world was in the heart of Virginia’s fabled Blue Ridge Mountains with the Shenandoah Valley cradled beneath. Here, in a rustic log cabin, complete with a stone fireplace and crackling fire fed by hard rock maple logs, she and he were having their quiet time away from the rest of the world. A few days for peace and reflection. A time for self-examination: to exchange, explore, feel bottled up emotions. To better understand themselves and each other.

He was still sleeping in the queen size bed they shared while she viewed the valley below with its eagle ballet.

Following the elegant bird with its white head, flashing yellow beak and talons, she saw it fold its wings and dive at unimaginable velocity at some unknown prey. While she could not see all, she did visualize the bird’s screech as it extended talons to grasp its quarry. She did see the massive beast rise from the valley floor and begin to climb upwards…to her.

To her? Well, towards her as she knew the bird did not know of her presence. Maybe that of the cabin with its warm smoke curling from the chimney, but certainly not its occupants.

But, a moment later there it was, wings fully extended, something clutched firmly within its talons, coming towards the tiny cabin.

Without warning, almost touching the windows glass, the beautiful bird of prey turned, and raced skyward.

Taken aback, somewhat frightened, with heart pounding she looked upward to see the winged creature soaring into the clouds, and then downward, her eyes falling on the window sill. There, unmarred lay a sprig of green Holly with a bunch of bright red berries. Nature’s welcome to Spring.