“Old mossy steps know lots of
secrets.”
-Old Moss Woman's Secret Garden
The old mossy steps know lots of
secrets. At their base is where my childhood pals and I met to plot
treasure hunts and adventures. The bottom step was the starting point
of many secret missions and the tall wall on the left is where I
decided to try to fly, resulting in a spectacular fall into the the
lower wall on the opposite side of the steps, and a dozen or so
stitches in my chin.
Then it was the place of my first kiss.
I still remember standing at the top of the steps looking out across
the valley below as I held her hand and tried to work up the nerve to
kiss her. She gave me a peck on the cheek, then I turned and looked
at her a moment before leaning in and kissing her lips.
As a teenager I snuck off to the same
mossy old steps to share deep talks with my girlfriend. We'd sit on
the third step from the top and I would lean back against the taller
wall while my girlfriend rested against me and we shared our most
intimate fears and dreams.
But the middle step, staring at a patch
of moss on the taller wall is where I told my biggest secrets. With
no one listening but the moss and a few trees I would spill out my
secrets and talk through my problems. That wall knew when I fought
with my parents and what my girlfriend and I disagreed about. It knew
when my childhood best friend and I stopped being best friends. It
knew when I was depressed, when I was afraid to ask for help, and
when I had big dreams I was too scared to hope would come true.
The old mossy steps know many secrets,
and I'm sure they know more than just mine...
Photo and prompt found here.
