Silence above the noise.

I sat writing one peaceful afternoon ; covering all the year 11 students History papers , the sun cast its gentle rays upon the garden as a light breeze rustled through the trees.

Lenny, a dedicated gardener with a love for nurturing nature, found himself deeply engrossed in the task at hand.

Teresa, his friend and a person of few words, sat quietly at the kitchen table, observing Lenny's movements with curiosity and appreciation.

Lenny carefully weeded the garden, his strong fingers effortlessly removing unwanted nuisances that threatened the beauty of his vibrant flowers and lush greenery.

As he diligently worked in the soothing rhythm of earth’s meeting hand, he occasionally glanced at Teresa, acknowledging her quiet presence and the genuine interest in her eyes.

Their silent connection fostered a unique bond, one that transcended the need for spoken words.

Teresa had always admired Lenny's dedication to the garden, his unwavering commitment to seeing beauty flourish amidst the chaos of life.

She yearned to achieve such tranquility herself, and Lenny's efforts served as a gentle reminder of the power of patience and perseverance.

For hours, Lenny continued his careful work, while Teresa sat, her silent observations speaking volumes.

It was as if they were in a dance, where Lenny's gardening movements represented the intricate steps, and Teresa’s quiet gaze was the rhythm that guided him through each motion.

In the midst of their invisible conversation, Lenny paused for a moment, wiping the sweat from his brow and catching his breath.

Teresa‘s eyes met his, and a knowing smile graced her lips.

Though no words were exchanged, Lenny felt understood, as if Teresa had rekindled the fire within him to continue.

With renewed determination, Lenny resumed his gardening duties, touching each plant with care and tending to their needs like a concerned parent.

Teresa continued to watch, her eyes sparkling with admiration and gratitude for the beauty that Lenny's touch brought forth.

The day slowly moved on, and as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting an orange glow upon the garden, Lenny finally completed his task.

The garden stood as a testament to his dedication and love, emanating an aura of peace and serenity that both Lenny and Teresa soaked in.

As Lenny approached the kitchen table, he settled down beside Teresa, exhausted but content.

They exchanged a brief glance, acknowledging the silent connection that had blossomed throughout the day.

Lenny reached out and took Teresa’s hand in his, a gesture of heartfelt appreciation for her steadfast presence.

Though their day had been filled with the absence of spoken words, Lenny and Teresa had communicated on a deeper level.

Their shared understanding, the unspoken language between them, had woven a tapestry of conversation filled with admiration, gratitude, and a mutual appreciation for the beauty of nature.

In the stillness of the evening, as dusk settled over the garden, Lenny and Teresa sat side by side, enveloped in a silence that brought them closer than any words ever could.

And in that serene moment, amidst the blossoms and the fading sunlight, they found solace in each other's company, knowing that some conversations can transcend speech.

Lenny left and as Teresa closed the door behind him, she noticed a an envelope on the floor. Instantly she picked it up, nothing on the front of the envelope, on the back Hopefully Lenny!

Teresa quickly opened the envelope to find a letter inside it.

Dear Teresa, it wrote; I have loved being your gardener for the past five years, however, I’m hoping to be able to find the courage to take you to the movies one night. I have written it in a letter, so if you wish to decline, you may do so without feeling the need to feel any unwanted pressure from me: just ignore the reques, which if you wish too, then wonderful. Perhaps we could organise something when I next call to do the gardening.

Teresa didn’t quite know what to make of it but she knew by the glance that they shared were of a vibrant; vibration of two different and lost souls.

Teresa was a very strong woman who through adversity brought single handed up her two children.

Lenny was a very good man who had surely been a very hard working man, Teresa knew he had worked hard for his family and life as his hands bore the burden of hard barnacle’s under his index fingers.

His clothes were always often shabby from pure‘grafting’ ; whatever he needed to do for his family and a meal on the table, well it was never too demeaning.

Lenny and Teresa had been able to get to know each other in a way that required no speaking, as well when Teresa actually sat and thought with the note in her lap; he never had to speak and neither she.

It’s like they had this intimate connection and innate ability to communicate without words.

Teresa sat most of the night, mulling whether to go out with Lenny to the movies or not.

I mean she was always so engrossed in her work that she didn’t seem to have any time for leisure, the children were always there for her, and she them.

The following week and Lenny was punctual, spot on 11am Saturday morning.

Teresa opened the door, smiled and he proceeded to the Garden shed.

For a change Teresa thought she would take cool refreshing lemonade sprite to the garden for them to enjoy sitting on the porch.

They were both happy just to be in the fresh air, Sun just setting, so it was a perfect afternoon.

They just quietly stared at the Lawn, a leaf lay there.

Lenny went to move, Teresa pulled his hand, knowing that he was going to move it, but it was quite obvious that the leaf was speaking in some kind of way; well to Teresa it was.

She turned and looked at Lenny and smiled, then looked straight back at the leaf.

Yes that is it she thought, it’s saying no! It’s a cross . Like rolling the dice for an answer Teresa found her’s in a natural position of two leaves being held at that point by thorns.

Lenny got up and he disn’t ask or question Teresa in any way about the proposal he had made as he too had been looking for an answer that afternoon and the staring at the same two leaves, in that very position had already begun to register with Lenny; what was going on in Teresa head.

It was strange really that in the five years of calling to do the gardening Lenny had never sought to ask, or make any gestures of interest in particular a relationship, well a more intimate one before now. Teresa just put it down to knowing something! Strange I know but that week Teresa mistepped into the road and was instantly killed by a lorry.

In a letter that Teresa had written the week before were of the event that was to take place, that she had foreseen it. Would he kindly please make sure Arnia her daughter was looked after.

The years passed and Arnia and Lenny were to be married in a special ceremony, as Narnia had never spoken again since her mother passed.

On the wedding after 17 years of silence she shouted out loud “Yes I do”

Funny how words are not always necessary they can often be noise in the silence that has many answers .