towards the door and reached out for the shiny bronze knob, cane in hand I turned it, and made the long trek to the lakeside. The sun was beginning its descent over the horizon sitting atop the far-off mountains like a fiery orange crown, it was breath taking, and all together relaxing, the one true medicine which is beauty. I could have, and I would have stood there forever to gaze upon its fleeting rays, but alas I moved on towards the shore of the lake which now shone orange in the receding hours of the day. The fish no longer lept from its calm face, the birds now took to the flying insects for food, it was just another day among the chaotic events of the wild, in my own back yard. Sometimes I find it hard to believe just how blind we could be to the surrounding beauty, how we could grow used to it, immune to it, so I strive to let it sink in, absorb me, and I find peace in the simpleness of the beauty. I was looking out no longer seeing what it was I was looking out at, my thoughts had turned to the events of the day which had rapidly left my control, the sky had grown dark, the moon now put off an eerie light, and the hooting of a distant owl could be heard as it searched for food on the ground of the woods just beyond the lake. That is when I realized the person standing behind me, their breathing is what gave them away, they were at least being respectful of my private thought time. “yes” I said without turning around and my reply came in the deep soothing tones of our district governor “I just came to give my apologies about the senate ruling earlier today, I would have you know I argued against it. But there is only so much that I can do” I could hear the sincereness in his voice “it is okay, and I never did believe that you had anything to do with it.” I heard his breath release just a fraction, and I could all but see his face and the relief it was showing “thank you for your confidence in me it is deeply gratifying” he said and meant. I turned with a smile “of course I never doubted you for a second, and the senate was bound to overrule me anyways” I said with an inward pang, sad at the thought it would never go beyond the state senate, and into 159Please respect copyright.PENANAhnlUBzseey