If He Chose To

Unforced Movement
Moving without trying to improve anything.

I needed to drop off a shopping bag into my car inside the garage before going on my walk.

When I went into the garage through the side door and not the large garage door, I noticed a small bunny inside.

It ran from me and I thought it must have gotten stuck. I tried holding the door open for the bunny to leave, but it just stayed away from me.

After dropping off the bag, I left and opened the large garage door, which has a delay before closing. I stood outside and watched.

I never saw a bunny leave before it closed.

I turned to start my walk and saw two larger bunnies on the grass. They were pretty wet. The bunny in the garage was not.

So I wondered if it was intentional on the bunny’s part. To stay dry instead of being out in the wet rainy environment.

I hoped so.

I decided to take the sidewalk next to the busy street. I didn’t want muddy hiking shoes this time.

The first thing I noticed was how the mountains looked. They were sunny looking, but with muted greens and blues. On top of them sat clouds an odd color of gray and white.

I also noticed I was seeing this through my bangs. For some reason, I thought it was a good way to view.

The next thing I noticed was a sudden quietness. Then I realized I had not noticed the noisiness of the busy street until it was gone.

I decided that wasn’t the first time in my life I didn’t notice something until it was gone.

Once I noticed that, I couldn’t unnotice the noise. It came back more than the quiet.

I turned off the sidewalk with the busy traffic and sounds became more subtle. Birds. An occasional car. Movement of something.

It felt like a rest for my ears.

A man walked by me going the opposite direction. He looked to be my age and moving the same. Not in a hurry, but not casual either.

He said, “Hi.” Not with a smile. I replied back the same way.

I felt a quick sort of companionship.

As I got closer to home and the garage, I noticed a car leaving. The garage door stayed open for its programmed delay.

The driver waved as he went by and I waved back.

I looked back at the closing garage door and wondered if the bunny made it out.

If he chose to.