Bubbles

So slowly they form, the foamy liquid sticky to the touch, connecting to the hard, plastic wand like a magnet. Slowly, air blows in and they detach themselves in perfect spheres to float along in the air. Serenely, they float alone, as if sitting on the sea, gently bobbing up and down with the rise and fall of the small waves.

Your excitement builds as a rainbow forms on the liquid where the light hits it. As the bubble takes shape from your simple breath of life, your smile couldn't be bigger. Your anticipation, your excitement grows. You're on the edge of your seat. The build up pours out of you as you chase the bubble, floating along in the breeze. All you want is to run alongside it, feeling the wind rush through your hair.

Sometimes, if you're very lucky, you'll get caught in the bubble. Concealed within it's embrace. You can't help but be happy in that bubble. Nothing can touch you. Not in your bubble. Your bubble is complete bliss. There's no darkness, no worries here in this small slice of tranquillity. It feels like heaven. Like a beautiful breeze enveloping you, washing you anew. You've never felt better. Never more free in your life than right here. You could dance in deliriously happy circles, scream and shout with sheer joy from the rooftops.

And then, the bubble bursts. One sharp prick is all it takes and your beautiful world. The beautiful mirage you'd come to see as real suddenly disappears in an instant. You are dropped painfully, forcefully back down. You hit the cold hard ground with a harsh thud and curl up in a ball. It feels like glass has shattered, and you're surrounded by it's broken remains. You want to cry, but you know that won't do anything. It won't put that beautifully blissful bubble back together. It won't fix what's been broken beyond repair.

Finally, you take a breath and look up. Your lips curve slowly upward at the edges at the sight before your eyes. There are more beautiful bubbles bobbing along in the sky, and you realise then that even if one bubble bursts, if you just wait, long enough, another bubble will be brought to life. And if you're very lucky, it might engulf you in it's joyous embrace and take you on a ride awhile, away from your troubles and worries. Away from the hard, confusing world. But the more bubbles you have, the more you learn to cushion the fall when they burst, and the more you believe that another bubble will soon bob by to take it's place.