After tossing and turning for hours I turned to the clock, which sat on top of the nightstand, next to me. It was already 10:00 p.m. Obviously I wasn’t going to sleep anytime soon. I hated having insomnia. Pushing myself up out of bed, I began getting ready for a little midnight stroll. For one reason or another I had found that walks at night helped me sleep. Maybe it was just that I had always liked the night time. To me, it was an eerie peacefulness, which calmed my soul.
Ever since I was a little kid, I had been taking random walks whenever I couldn’t sleep. For that reason it wasn’t really a surprise I found myself getting ready to take one now. Heading for the doorway of my room, I remembered a bit of my childhood. I remembered my mother. She also had a hard time putting me to bed. She told me many times I would keep her up all night, that is unless she sat on the porch under the moonlight with me. I remember her saying she would sit in her rocking chair with me in her arms and just slowly glide back and forth until I was fell fast asleep.
The thoughts of my mom had been the first bit of real peace I’ve had. At least since this whole ordeal began. It made me miss her more than I already had. Trying to remove the pain of missing her, I let myself focused on getting ready for my walk.
With winter almost here most of our nights were a little chilly, but tolerable. I put on a pair of boots and a light jacket, figuring it would be enough to keep the cold from biting at my skin, and then headed for the door.
Walking out of my apartment heading for route thirty-two, my hands found their way into the pockets of the black windbreaker. As usual my eyes found their way up to the night sky. I was left in sheer amazement. It was the clearest night I had seen in a long time. Stars stretched across the indigo sky reaching out as far as the eye could see.
The shimmers of twinkling lights a satisfying sight, I found myself drawn to the soft light, which seemed to glisten around the moon. Its fullness gave me a subtle tranquility as it filled the heavens full of peace.
Thirty-two didn’t have any streetlights to illuminate the way. It was always dark letting the moon light the sky. Even though there were no lights, I wasn’t bothered by it. For some reason, I was always able to walk at ease in the dark. It was as if it was where I belonged.
Three miles down the road I decided to take a different route. Instead of just turning around and going home, I made a slight turn onto an old dirt road. I knew the street well from having walked it many times before. It ran through the middle of a rather large forest, and would eventually bring to the bridge behind my apartment.
I figured while on the road, I would stop and pay a visit to Rambo, an old friend I hadn’t visited in quite a while. I have known him for around eight years. He is a black and white husky I used to play with as a kid. Usually, I made it a point to see him at least once a week, but I haven’t lately. It was for that reason I knew he would be glad to see me.
Gradually coming into sight, Rambo stood on the lawn and barked.
“Rambo, quiet boy, it’s me.” I whispered.
Realizing it was me he began bouncing around playfully with his tail going a mile a minute. The sound of his barks faded as he waited impatiently for me to reach him. He was never chained since he normally wouldn’t venture from his yard. I knew I would have to make my way over to him quickly, or he would begin to bark again. I just hoped the barking he already did hadn’t disturbed the Cormac’s.
Walking up to him, pulling my hand out of my pocket, along with a few milk bones I still had from my last visit. I knelt down and began to stroke his back as he ate. Eating them all, his snout made its way to my chin. Giving me a kiss as his paw lifted slightly to my hand, I knew it was his way of saying thanks. And, he was glad to see I hadn’t forgotten about him.
Spending some time with him helped, he was always able to make me laugh, but it was time to head back. Giving him a small pat on his head, I stood up. My dark brown eyes stared deeply into his light blue ones. A sad feeling filled my heart.
“I’m sorry boy. I have to go now.” My hand grazed his side as the words escaped my mouth.
Turning to make my way out of his yard and onto the road, the sounds of his sad whimpers embraced my ears forcing me to stop. I found myself walking back over to give him another soft stroke down the length of his back. His fur was soft and cuddly as my fingers ran through it.
“Its okay Bo, I’ll be back soon.” Making there way from my lips, my words were gentle and reassuring.
Taking my hand from his back, I walked to the road blocking out the sounds he made. Rambo sat there watching as I gradually vanished into the darkness and out of sight.
