Under the Bridge

Instinctively I ducked my head, that storm came out of nowhere, the meteorologist certainly did not predict it. Rain began to beat down as though it was attempting to force its way into the ground, feeling hail-like but nope just large forceful drops. I was too far from home and in this area, this early in the morning no shops were open and of course I was without an umbrella.  I peered around and spotted a small walkway bridge just up the street, no idea where it led to, in fact, I was not sure I ever noticed it before, oh well any port in the storm will do when you are in a down pour and need to wait out a rainstorm. Making a mad dash slipping under the bridge for protection. As I caught my breath I looked around and noticed a scattering of wooden crates, unfortunately, the light was too dim to make out any writing and the flashlight on my phone didn’t seem to want to work, just my luck, I took a seat on the crate nearest me continuing to look around it actually seemed quite cozy, and it smelt very unexpectedly of a damp forest. Other than the crates the area was surprisingly clean, no trash littered about and no one else appeared to be around either. While I would not begrudge anyone else who needed to find shelter, I was grateful that no one else seemed to be around. 

The storm began to pick up, rain lashing at the entrance of the underpass of the bridge and thunder so loud it felt like it shook the entire structure. In a quiet moment, I heard scurrying behind the crates across from me, just my luck critters though I did not notice any signs that the bridge underpass was infested with anything I could still hear a little scurrying, scratching sound. I looked around and saw nothing and settled in to wait out the storm. Thank goodness I had a Kindle on my phone, and it was fully charged, I settled in for a bit of reading. I heard it again, a little scurry-scratching sound I look up toward the crates across from me and spy a small beak, like that of a bird, poking forward as I moved it did as well, tucking back in behind the crates. Thinking perhaps it was just a pigeon I went back to reading only to hear it yet again and this time the beak along with a small head peaked out. I gasped and it tucked back in, I swear it looked like a small eagle head, not a pigeon it had to be the dim light making it difficult to make out details. Shaking my head, I once again go back to reading and again the sound and the peaking of a head and this time a small little chirp. I put down my phone, reached my hand out palm up and softly spoke, “don’t be afraid I’m just waiting out the storm like you.” Remembering I had a granola bar in my coat pocket, I unwarp it and held it out toward the critter. The bird chirped once and stretched its neck forward pulling its body a little further out, no it cannot be, it is the light that was not what I thought it was, I shifted, and the bird darted back behind the crate. I continued to speak softly, holding out the granola bar and the critter, because I was no longer sure that it was in fact a bird or my imagination, cautiously approached bringing its entire body out from behind the create. 

“Oh, my stars, no way,” I shake my head and blink quickly trying to clear my eyes, but no I am in fact seeing a real live Griffin, a small one, perhaps a baby, but it was a Griffin. It finished off my granola looks in my direction and chirps once and begins to go back behind the crate, halfway back it turns its head back toward me as if it wanted me to follow, I was so stunned I could not move, it turns back to me and moves forward a few steps and chirps again and once again turn away to move behind the crates glancing in my direction.  Well, who am I to turn down a personal invitation to follow Griffin? 

As I move forward and step behind the crates following Grif, yes, I already gave the critter a nick name, creeping slowing as the light was still dim and my eyes were still adjusting, Grif continued forward glancing back occasionally as though they wanted to ensure I was following. After a few moments I began to see a dim light coming from in front of us and as we moved closer it became a hole in the wall of the underpass. Now it was my turn to peak out to see what was in front of me. Once again, I could not believe my eyes, I duck back the hole in the underpass, shake my head and again move forward through the opening out into the most beautiful land I had ever seen, in picture and my imagination sure but never right in front of me. The colors of the area were vivid and brighter than I had ever seen before. Grif continued moving further into the land and slowly other beings crept out from the foliage, peaking out making excited noises and Grif responded in kind and not just any beings but those of mythology, unicorns, dragons, Pegasus, and more griffins, but none are as large as me and I am in awe. Grif turns to me and as one they make the most beautiful sound, bowing their heads as if to say I was welcome. 

I jolted up from my sleep, wide awake and I shook my head, it was a dream, but it felt so real beyond any dream I had ever experienced, and I had some amazing life-like dreams in my life. This one was one for the books I quickly grabbed my journal and wrote out as much as I could remember.  

I complete my morning routine, dress, and walk out my front door for my morning walk, and out of nowhere I hear thunder and it begins to rain.