Page 18 - WOTS_Issue_69

S I L E N C E

SWU STUDENT CONTRIBUTION: WYNONA ABULAIS

AN ENEMY OR FRIEND?

Think of the word “silence.” When we read or hear the here for silence too?” she
word, one thing always comes to mind: no sound. We smiled. I looked at her and it
think of signs that say “Quiet please” and “No talking!” seems I’ve learned a lesson
They are generally the minions of silence. But to an from her. Why was I here in
artist, silence is like a painting with a thousand stories to the first place? I wasn’t lost
tell. For a musician, it’s the part of the symphony that or depressed either. But I
leaves every listener wondering what comes next. For an found it comforting here. In
average person, it is a moment where peace and quiet the middle of nowhere. “To
collide. Let me take you to the world of true silence. welcome silence in my life
Imagine walking in a cemetery. All you can hear is the for the first time.” I said.
wind blowing. Leaves crush under your every step. You
are away from all the things that drive you insane. You Silence. I find it beautiful.
feel peaceful. All that surrounds you is pure silence. You Before, I just used it as a
need to get away from everything and all it takes is just a threat like they always say,
moment of quietness. You don’t mourn for the loss of a silence kills. It’s not really
loved one. You welcome it with an open arm. You feel it that bad. I closed my eyes
embracing you back and when you come back to reality, and felt and smelled the air
you leave it once again with a smile on your lips because of this forest. A moment of
you’ve had your fill. silence passed us by. I once
again smiled. It’s beautiful.
Once I saw a woman in her 60’s strolling in a forest. I
caught her attention when I smiled at her. “Hello” she Silence isn’t really an enemy
said. “Hi, what are you doing here ma’am?” I asked. We or a friend. It gives you
both sat on a bench in a corner filled with trees, a view of space and it gives you the
leaves and mountains around us. “I came here for creeps. It’s neutral and
silence.” she smiled. I sort of found it funny. An old enchanting but too much
woman just here for silence. She could have just locked could drive you insane. I
herself in a room and talked to no one; that’s what I hope after reading this,
would do in my case. But the tone of her voice leaves me you’ll never look at silence
wondering. For silence... Is it because she found this the same way again.
place comforting? Or was it a memory of someone or Welcome it and feel it every
something that made her come here? once in a while.

“I love the way those trees let go of their leaves one by
one as the fall starts. The way the sun changes the colors
of this forest. And most of all, the sound of peace. I came
here for that. I’ve lived my whole life full of noises and
problems. Life is like that and whenever I’ve had too
much, I come here because silence can keep us going
when at times we can’t handle it anymore. I don’t wanna
die because of stress. If I were to die, I’d die in silence
and a smile on my wrinkly face. How about you? Are you